LIBRARY  OF  PRINCE'! ON 


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THEOLOGICAL  SBM'  \RY 


BX  7795    .G84  A3  1834 
3rover,  William,  1752-1825. 
Selections  from  the  letters 

and  other  papers  of  Willia 

m 


Digitized  by 

the  Internet  Arcinive 

in  2015 

littps://arcliive.org/details/selectionsfromleOOgrov_0 


SELECTIONS  JAN  gi  18ig 


FROM  THE 


LETTERS  AND  OTHER  PAPERS 


OF 

y 

WIIililAM  GROVER5 


PRECEDED  BV 


A  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICE  OF  HIS  LIFE. 


Be  not  slothful,  but  followers  of  them  who  through 
faith  and  patience  inherit  the  promises." — Heb.  vi.  12. 


Rp-printei  for  the  TrvMees  of  O.  Brou-n's  Benerolentfvnd. 

PROVIDENCE: 
H.  H.  BROWN.... 25  iMARKET-SQUARE. 
1  8  3  4. 


Our  late  friend  William  Grover, 
was  so  justly  esteemed  in  our  religious 
Society,  that  it  has  been  thought  the 
following  Selection  from  his  Letters 
and  Papers  would  be  acceptable  to  his 
friends.  They  may  instructively  receive 
the  recollection  of  his  Christian  labors 
and  example  amongst  us ;  and  of  his 
earnest  solicitude  for  the  preservation 
of  his  friends  from  all  that  is  evil,  and 
for  their  growth  in  true  piety. 

J.  F. 

Tottenham.  Sth  month.  1828. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  V  -  PA(JK. 

I.  Biographical  Memoir  of  William  Grover,  .    .  5 
II.  Meditations  and  Reflections,  23 

III.  Letters  ami  Papers  relating  to  the  Character 

and  Principles  of  our  religious  Society,    .  39 

IV.  Letters  and  other  Papers  addressed  to  the 

Youth,  54 

V.  Extracts  of  Letters  written  from  the  year 

1800  to  1811,  with  some  other  papers,    .  70 
VI.  Extracts  of  Letters  written  from  the  year  1812 

to  1819,   .  96 

VII.  Extracts  of  Letters  written  from  the  year  1820 

to  1823,   122 

VIII.  Extracts  from  Letters  written  in  the  years 

1824  and  1825,    .    .    .    .    .•    .    .    f  133 


SELECTIONS,  8ic. 


CHAPTER  1. 
BIOaRAPHZOAL  mBmOlB. 

OF 

WILLIAM  GROVER. 

William  Grover^  the  son  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  Grover,  was  bom  at  Brighthelmstone 
in  Sussex,  the  15th  of  the  11th  month,  1752, 
Very  few  particulars  ai'e  knowTi  of  his  early 
life.  After  leaving  school,  he  was  placed  as  an 
apprentice  with  Edmund  Rack,  a  Friend,  who 
was  a  retail  country  shopkeeper,  at  Bardfield  in' 
Essex.  Soon  after  the  expiration  of  the  term, 
he  engaged  himself  as  an  assistant  to  Samuel 
Day,  who  was  also  a  member  of  our  religious 
society,  and  in  a  similar  business,  and  who  lived 
at  Stanstead  Mount  Fitchet,  in  the  same  coun- 
ty. After  serving  him  with  diligence  and  in- 
tegrity for  several  years,  he  became  a  partner  in 
the  concern,  and  resided  there  during  the  re- 


6 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR* 


mainder  of  his  life.  He  inherited  some  patri- 
monial property,  his  father  having  died  when  he 
was  young ;  but  at  the  same  time  he  found  it 
necessary  to  pursue  his  engagements  in  business, 
and  was  esteemed  an  upright  tradesman,  of  kind 
and  respectfol  manners ;  one  who  was  careful, 
in  all  things,  to  act  as  becomes  a  member  of  our 
religious  society.  He  continued  in  trade  until 
within  a  few  years  of  his  decease ;  and  though 
diligent  in  attending  to  these,  the  necessary 
cares  of  life,  he  was  not  engrossed  with  them  : 
possessing  a  well-regulated  and  pious  mind,  he 
may  be  said  to  have  pursued  the  concerns  of 
time  with  eternity  steadily  in  view. 

In  the  year  1786,  he  married  Isabel  Weath- 
erald,  of  Wensleydale,  in  the  north-western  parts 
of  Yorkshire,  who  has  survived  him ;  and  in 
their  union,  for  nearly  forty  years,  which  was  a 
source  of  mutual  comfort  and  happiness,  he 
proved  himself  a  truly  affectionate  husband  ; 
uniformly  evincing,  under  every  circumstance, 
the  greatest  tenderness  and  sympathy. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir,  was  one  who, 
from  early  life,  was  of  a  thoughtful  turn  of  mind, 
and  showed  a  strong  attachment  to  the  princi- 
ples and  testimonies  of  Friends.  As  he  advanced 
in  years,  he  submitted  to  the  humbling,  refining 
operations  of  divine  grace  ;  and,  through  contin- 


OF  WILLIAM  GROVER. 


7 


ued  watchfulness  and  obedience  to  the  pointings 
of  duty,  he  attained  to  that  experience  and  sta- 
bihty  in  the  tmth,  of  which  his  conduct  and  re- 
hgious  usefuhiess  afterwards  gave  abundant  proof. 
A  description  of  some  parts  of  his  rehgious  char- 
acter, is  appropriately  given  in  the  following 
extracts,  from  a  memorial  concerning  him,  issu- 
ued  by  the  Friends  of  Thaxted  monthly  meet- 
ing, of  which  he  was  a  member. 

"  It  is  not  our  intention  to  extol  the  character 
of  the  deceased,  as  a  man,  estimable  as  he  was, 
in  the  various  relations  of  life ;  but  to  exhibit 
his  Christian  virtues,  and  ascribe,  as  he  did,  all 
excellency  to  the  power  of  divine  grace,  merci- 
fully granted  to  mankind,  for  their  salvation, 
through  the  mediation  of  the  blessed  Redeemer, 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  The  rec- 
titude of  his  conduct,  in  the  discharge  of  his 
moral  and  religious  duties,  his  humility,  meek- 
ness, and  dedication  to  the  cause  of  truth,  were 
all  fruits  of  faith  in  the  means  thus  graciously 
afforded. 

"  He  was  very  exemplary  in  the  fulfilment  of 
his  duty  to  his  Maimer,  by  a  constant  attendance 
of  religious  meetings,  when  of  ability  ;  in  which 
his  solid  deportment  indicated  great  reverence 
of  spirit,  and  fervency  of  deske  to  gain  access  to 
the  Fountain  of  all  Good ;  and,  on  these  occa- 
sions, we  believe  that  his  mind  was  often  en- 


8 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR 


riclied  with  the  incomes  of  divine  love  and 
peace. 

"He  was  a  great  lover  of  retirement  and 
meditation.  The  frequent  reading  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  was  also  a  source  of  instmction  and 
comfort  to  him ;  and  this  practice  he  was  often 
tenderly  engaged  to  recommend  to  others,  as 
one  of  the  means  by  which  they  might  be 
strengthened  and  encouraged  to  advance  in  the 
Christian  path. 

"  The  views  he  took  of  himself  were  humble, 
whilst  his  estimate  of  the  true  Christian  charac- 
ter was  a  highly  exalted  one.  Hence  arose 
great  vigilance  and  circumspection,  that  no  part 
of  his  demeanor  should  dishonor  the  cause  he 
so  greatly  valued  and  loved.  This  care  was 
manifested  in  all  his  conduct ;  and  evidently  so, 
in  transacting  the  affairs  of  the  chi.u"ch,  in  which 
his  judgment  was  clear,  and  his  language  per- 
suasive ;  tending  much  to  encourage  friends  in 
the  support  of  the  discipline,  in  the  executive 
part  of  which  he  very  rarely  excused  himself 
from  service  ;  having  a  great  care  for  the  pros- 
perity of  truth,  and  that  his  fellow-professors 
might  be  faithful  in  our  testimonies,  and  consis- 
tent in  all  their  conduct,  endeavoring  to  keep 
the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

"  Perhaps  few  have  been  so  much  favored 
with  the  prevalence  of  love :  it  seemed  to  be 


OF  WILLIAiM  GROVER. 


9 


the  constant  clothing  of  his  mind,  and  was  evinc- 
ed towards  all  classes  of  society.  The  youth, 
especially,  were  the  objects  of  his  tender  solici- 
tude ;  for  whose  early  attention  to  the  reproofs 
of  instruction,  and  for  their  growth  and  estab- 
lishment in  the  truth,  he  felt  an  unremitting 
concern." 

His  important  services  in  cur  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, and  his  communications  to  his  fiiends,  will 
be  long  remembered.  He  often  spoke  of  the 
comfort  which  he  derived  from  reflecting  on  the 
goodness  and  mercy,  and  loving-kindness  of  our 
Heavenly  Father ;  inviting  others,  and  particu- 
larly his  younger  friends,  to  seek  to  live  under 
the  influence  of  his  love.  His  remarks  were 
clear,  comprehensive,  and  concise ;  and  the 
precious  influence  which  they  produced,  "  was 
often,  in  a  remarkable  degree,  to  be  felt,- after 
the  conclusion  of  them. 

He  was  a  willing  laborer  in  the  church  of 
Christ — an  elder  worthy  of  double  honor  ;  do- 
ing wdiat  his  hands  found  to  do  with  a  cheerful 
heart,  as  one  serving  a  good  and  gracious  Mas- 
ter, and  thus  forcibly  recommending  the  princi- 
ples he  professed.  Highly  valuing  the  care 
w^hich  our  Christian  discipline  provides,  and 
manifesting  a  deep  concern  for  its  being  rightly 
and  impartially  exercised,  he  at  the  same  time 
a2 


10 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR 


discovered  rnucli  caution  and  tenderness  in  cases 
of  delinquency,  cherishing  feelings  of  love  and. 
compassion^  when  judging  of  the  errors  and 
weaknesses  of  others.  He  was  very  anxious 
that  all  the  meetings,  established  for  transacting 
the  affairs  of  our  society,  should  be  held  rmder 
the  influence  of  Christian  love,  and  in  the  fear 
of  the  Lord;  being  convinced  that,  were  this  the 
case,  they  would  often  be  times  of  solid  instruc- 
tion. 

Whilst  he  was  a  firm  behever  in  the  imme- 
tliate  teachings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  was  diffi- 
dent in  speaking  of  his  own  experience ;  and 
though  well  persuaded  that  our  religious  princi- 
ples lead  to  great  spirituality,  he  was  very  cautious 
of  judging  others,  or  deciding  for  them.  His  de^ 
sire  was  that  all  might  be  drawn  in  love  to  seek  - 
after  the  guidance  of  that  wisdom  which  com- 
eth  from  above,  and  to  see  the  beauty  and  ex- 
cellency of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Believing 
as  he  did,  that  our  predecessors  had  been  called 
to  uphold  a  pure  and  perfect  standard  df  Christian 
doctrine,  he  was  deeply  solicitous  that  this  might 
in  no  way  be  lowered  by  Friends  of  the  present 
day  ;  and  they  as  individuals,  and  the  Society  as 
a  body,  might  endeavor  so  to  act,  as  to  bring 
others  to  see  and  to  acknowledge  the  consistency 
of  our  profession  with  the  gospel  dispensation. 

His  general  appearance  was  meek  and  grave. 


OF  WILLIAM  GROVEK. 


11 


exhibiting  a  bright  example  of  a  religious  char- 
acter ;  an  habitual  gratitude,  and  filial  fear  of  God, 
marking  his  life  and  demeanor.  He  behaved 
with  great  kindness  and  courtesy  to  all ;  at  the 
same  time  maintainingjthe  dignity  of  a  disciple  of 
Christ,  so  that  his  deportment  commanded  es- 
teem and  deference. 

Our  dear  and  honored  friend  was  particularly 
pleased  with  the  society  of  young  persons ;  and 
to  many  of  this  class  he  was  endeared  by  the 
sweetness  and  affability  of  his  manners,  conver- 
sing with  them  in  a  w^ay  which  secured  their  con- 
fidence and  esteem.  He  felt  tender  solicitude 
for  them,  in  thinking  of  the  temptations  to 
which  they  were  peculiarly  exposed ,  and  wheth- 
er any  hints  which  he  offered  to  these,  were  de- 
signed to  encourage  them  to  persevere  in  the 
right  way  of  the  Lord,  or  to  check  the  early  ap- 
pearance of  a  departure  fi^om  Christian  simplicity, 
they  were  expressed  with  so  much  love,  that  they 
found  a  ready  entrance  into  the  heart.  Highly 
valuing  the  approved  writings  of  our  Society 
he  often  recommended  them  to  the  attention  of 
those  in  early  life.  He  promoted  also  their  pe- 
rusal of  works  of  literature  and  useful  informa- 
tion ;  but  saw  a  danger  in  the  young  and  inex- 
perienced entering  much  into  the  religious  opin- 
ions of  others.  Yet  he  was  far  from  being  illib- 
eral in  his  views,  often  gratefully  acknowledging 


12  BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR 


his  belief,  that  sects  and  distinctions  are  lost  in 
the  divine  sight. 

William  Grover  appeared  to  think  unkindly 
of  no  one ;  but,  when  obliged  to  censure  the 
conduct  of  any,  he  did  it  with  great  feeling  and 
compassion.  At  the  same  time,  there  was  a 
quick  perception  of  what  was  wrong,  and  it  was 
not  allowed  to  pass  unreproved.  He  had  a 
strong  objection  to  hearing  the  absent  slightly 
spoken  of,  or  their  faults  made  the  topic  of  con- 
versation. On  these  occasions  he  would  observe 
silence,  or  remind  the  company  to  be  careful  in 
their  remarks  on  others,  lest  they  should  un- 
guardedly injure  the  character  of  their  friends ; 
being  himself  careful  not  to  make  comparisons. 
He  was  of  a  cheerful,  contented  disposition,  and 
considered  it  right  to  derive  pleasure  and  grati- 
fication from  temporal  things,  as  blessings  from 
the  hand  of  an  Almighty  Benefactor ;  provided 
they  were  kept  in  subordination  to  the  great 
purpose  of  life,  and  not  suffered  to  engross  too 
much  of  the  time  and  affections.  He  met  the 
vicissitudes  of  life  with  calmness,  and  was  cai'efril 
not  to  suffer  cross  occurrences  to  discompose  his 
mind,  or  to  draw  him  into  the  use  of  impatient 
expressions. 

The  remembrance  of  his  absent  friends  was 
frequent  and  lively,  an^  he  evinced  a  warm  af- 
fection for  those  whom  he  had  loved  and  esteem- 


4 


OF   WILLIAM  GllOVEK. 


13 


ed  in  bis  youth.  He  seldom  forgot  the  afflicted, 
whether  rich  or  poor.  To  those  of  the  latter 
class  he  w^as  kind  and  considerate,  relieving  their 
w^ants,  often  visiting  them  in  their  dwellings, 
w^hen  he  would  enter  into  conversation  in  a  way 
adapted  to  them,  and  peculiar  to  himself;  and 
frequently,  in  the  retired  circle  of  his  own  family ; 
would  speak  of  and  commiserate  the  condition  of 
those  w^ho  had  received  fewer  blessings  than 
himself,  or  who  had  had  a  greater  portion  of  af- 
fliction or  suffering. 

He  was  a  man  of  great  punctuality  and  order 
in  the  daily  transactions  of  life,  seldom  deferring 
until  the  morrow  the  work  of  the  day ;  steady 
and  diligent  in  what  he  undertook,  and  a  good 
economist  of  time.  Few  w^ere  aware  of  the  ex- 
tent of  his  usefulness  in  cases  of  a  private  nature, 
among  his  neighbors.  To  these  he  was  free  of 
access  on  all  occasions;  and  much  of  his  time 
was  employed  in  their  service.  Possessing  an  in- 
telligent mind  and  a  clear  judgment,  he  was 
often  consulted  ;  and  his  assistance  was  frequent- 
ly solicited  to  settle  little  differences.  He  en- 
tered into  such  cases  with  great  deliberation  ;  his 
decisions  were  not  hastily  formed,  and  they  were 
mostly  well  received. 

When  the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  was  form- 
ed in  that  part  of  the  county  of  Essex  in  which 
he  resided,  he  readily  united  in  the  support  of  it, 


14  BIOGllAPHICAL  MEMOIR 


and  took  an  active  part  in  investigating  the  want 
of  the  Scriptures  among  his  poorer  neighbors.  He 
was  a  dihgent  member  of  the  committee  until 
the  time  of  his  ihness,  and  felt  a  lively  interest 
in  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  both  at  home 
and  abroad.  At  the  same  time,  he  was  anxious 
that  the  concerns  of  this  society  might  be  con- 
ducted under  the  influence  of  those  feelings,  and 
in  that  temper  of  mind,  to  which  the  Sacred 
Writings  bear  testimony  ;  and,  whilst  believing, 
as  he  did,  in  the  divine  authority  of  Holy  Scrip-' 
ture,  he  was  very  desirous  that  these  records 
should  be  properly  designated,  and  that  men 
should  not  confound  the  possession  and  distribu- 
tion of  the  Bible,  and  the  mere  knowledge  of  its 
contents,  with  the  partaking  of  those  living  wa- 
ters which  flow  immediately  from  Christ,  the 
fountain  oflife~of  that  bread  which  cometh  down 
from  heaven,  and  which,  when  received  with  a 
lively  operative  faith,  enables  us  to  work  out  the 
salvation  of  the  soul  with  fear  and  trembling. 

His  friends  had  ample  evidence  of  his  being 
a  firm  believer  in  the  essential  doctrines  of  the 
Gospel.  In  a  memorandum  left  behind  him, 
he  says ;  "I  believe  it  is  consistent  with  the 
genuine  principles  of  Friends,  that  all  the  com- 
munications of  the  mercy,  love,  power,  and 
goodness  of  God  to  his  creature  man,  are  in,  by, 
and  through  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 


OF  WILLIAM  GROVER. 


15 


and  no  otherwise,  and  in  this  belief  I  am  thank- 
ful to  Hve  and  unite."  In  a  letter,  WTitten  in 
the  eleventh  month,  1823,  after  alluding,  in 
tenns  of  strong  disapprobation,  to  the  views  of 
one  whose  sentiments  were  decidedly  contra- 
ry to  those  of  our  society,  ^'on  a  point  of  such 
supreme  importance  as  the  divine  nature  of  our 
blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,"  he 
proceeds ;  Can  I  close  this  subject  better, 
than  with  the  following  quotation  from  a  recently 
published  pamphlet,  in  which  the  WTiter,  when 
speaking  of  Christ,  says  :  '  What  encouragement 
and  comfort  is  there  in  the  contemplation  of  his 
character  and  offices,  both  as  prophetically  indi- 
cated, and  evangelically  displayed,  from  the  first 
and  most  obscure,  to  the  last  and  most  compre- 
hensive and  expressive,  viz.  The  Bruiser  of  the 
Serpent's  head ;  Immanuel,  God  with  us ;  the 
Lord  our  righteousness ;  the  Child  bom ;  the 
Son  given,  upon  whose  shoulders  the  govern- 
ment of  his  people  is  forever  to  be ;  whose 
name  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Counsellor, 
the  mighty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father,  and 
the  Prince  of  Peace;  the  root  and  the  offspring 
of  David ;  the  bright  and  morning  Star ;  the 
Son  of  i\Ian  ;  the  Son  and  Lamb  of  God,  who 
taketh  away  the  sms  ol  the  world !  w^ho  hath 
loved  us,  and  w^ashed  us  in  his  own  blood."* 


Mary  Jesup's  Address  to  Friends, 


16 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOlil 


William  Grover  possessed  a  sound  constitution, 
and  enjoyed  remarkably  good  health,  until  within 
a  few  months  of  his  death.  On  the  16th  of  5th 
month,  1825,  he  left  home  early  in  the  morning, 
to  attend  the  Yearly  Meeting,  from  which  he 
had  been  very  seldom  absent  for  nearly  forty 
years.  He  arrived  in  London  in  time  for  the 
first  sitting  of  the  meeting  of  ministers  and  el- 
ders, and  acted  as  an  assistant  to  the  clerk;  an 
office  which  he  had  for  some  time  acceptably 
filled,  and  which  he  resigned  at  the  close  of  that 
sitting.  With  his  accustomed  alacrity  and  in- 
terest in  the  concerns  of  the  society,  he  entered, 
throughout  the  day,"  into  the  proceedings  of  the 
meetings.  Towards  the  evenino^  he  felt  unwell, 
and,  in  the  course  of  the  night  was  so  alarming- 
ly ill,  that  his  wife  was  sent  for  early  the  fol- 
lowing morning.  His  disorder  was  a  very  pain- 
ful one;  and,  for  several  days,  his  life  was 
considered  to  be  in  great  danger.  His  medical 
attendants  attributed  his  restoration  to  health, 
so  far  as  it  took  place,  to  the  serenity  and  hum- 
ble resignation  with  which  he  bore  his  sufferings, 
as  much  as  to  the  means  which  were  em- 
ployed. 

The  following  memorandum,  written  in  Lon- 
don, on  the  occasion  of  this  illness,  was  found 
among  his  papers. 

''  This   has  been  a  remarkable  visitation,' 


or  WILLIAM  GROVER. 


It 


such  a  one  as  I  never  knew ;  except  that  of 
the  small  pox,  more  than  forty  years  ago.  may 
be  at  ail  compared  with  it.  I  might  be  said  to 
be  attacked  very  unexpectedly,  and  in  a  lonely 
condition  ;  but  help  and  comfort,' as  to  outwai'd 
accommiodation,  sprang  up  remarkably  ;  and  1 
think  it  might  be  said,  that  every  requisite  was 
supplied.  As  to  the  most  important  part,  it 
seem.ed  to  have  a  great  effect  in  breaking  the 
mind  off  from  this  world,  and  excitmg  earnest 
desires  for  a  preparation  and  fitness  to  enter  into 
rest  and  peace  everlasting. 

"  One  feature  was  ver^-  striking ;  the  kind, 
affectionate  interest  of  Friends  respecting  me  and 
my  case,  was  indeed  beyond  what  it  would  seem 
proper  to  record.  But  at  the  same  time,  per- 
haps at  scarce  any  period  have  I  so  feelingly 
and  cleai'ly  seen  my  own  unworthiness  and  in- 
significance, or  so  feelingly  prized  a  state  of  lit- 
tleness and  humble  reduction;  so  that,  like 
a  little  babe,  I  might  be  permitted,  in  simplicity 
and  perfect  innocence,  to  draw  nourishment  in 
quietness  from  the  breast  of  ever  enduring  and 
inexhaustible  consolation." 

In  a  letter  to  two  of  his  intimate  friends,  he 
remarks ; 

"  I  am  desirous  (I  hope  with  a  degi'ee  of  hum- 
ble gratitude)  of  informing  you,  that,  within 
three  or  four  days,  considerable  improvement  in 

B 


18 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR 


my  health  has  taken  place ;  and  whilst  I  am  so 
abundantly  sensible,  from  recent  past  experience, 
of  the  uncertainty  of  the  things  of  time,  yet  I 
wish  duly  to  appreciate  this  rich  favor,  permit- 
ted to  a  poor  traveller  through  the  chequered 
vale  of  time." 

Towards  the  end  of  the  sixth  month,  he  so 
far  recovered,  as  to  be  able  to  return  home,  on 
which  occasion  he  made  the  following  memo- 
randum. 

1825. — 7  mo.  13.  Being  permitted,  pn 
the  30th  ult.  in  company  with  my  dear  wife, 
cousin  Ehzabeth  Glaisyer,  and  John  Hooper,  to 
reach  home  in  safety,  I  am  aware  it  is  my  duty ,^ 
not  only  as  a  child,  to  crave  divine  consolation, 
but  also  to  watch  the  openings  and  presentations 
of  duty  which  may  be  vouchsafed,  however  small  ; 
so  that  the  talent  entrusted  may  not  be  buried 
under  the  feelings  of  feebleness,  or  any  thing 
else." 

In  two  letters  to  his  friends,  not  long  after- 
wards, he  thus  alludes  to  his  illness  : 

1825 — 8  mo.  7.  "  We  can  see  but  little  be- 
fore us;  and  what  a  favor  it  is,  when  circum- 
stances arise,  to  be  enabled  to  meet  them  with 
prudence  and  peaceflil  resignation.  This  illness 
may  be  said  to  be  a  proof  that  we  are  not  our 
own  keepers,  but  poor,  dependent  creatures. 
Oh !  that  we  may  have  light  in  our  dwelling 


OF  WILLIAM  GROVER. 


19 


and  on  our  path  ;  and,  through  boundless  mercy, 
peace  within  onr  borders.'^ 

8  rao.  26.  Respecting  resignation,  how 
just  are  thy  remarks,  that  our  i\dshes  as  well  as 
our  works  should  at  all  times  harmonize  with 
the  divine  will  :  indeed,  our  study  should  be,  to 
be  circumscribed  thereby ;  but  this  is  no  light 
matter,  but  a  high  and  most  precious  attainment. 
Do  not  thy  remarks,  however,  beg  tAVO  most  in- 
teresting questions ;  namely,  '  the  day's  work 
accomplished,  and  the  expected  consequent  re- 
ward ?'  also,  '  the  time  arrived  for  dissolving  ev- 
ery tender,  earthly  tie?'  With  awfulness  and 
reverence  these  may  be  left  in  the  holy,  dispensing 
hand  of  Him  who  doeth  all  things  well :  whilst 
we,  in  grateful,  humble  sensibility  of  the  value 
of  the  present  precious  blessings,  manifest  our  due 
estimation  of  them,  by  neglecting  no  proper 
means  to  secure  their  continuance,  in  due  and 
filial  submission,  all  the  while,  to  his  infinite 
wisdom,  goodness,  and  mercy." 

As  the  health  of  William  Grover  improved  a 
little  after  his  return  home,  his  friends  cherished 
the  pleasing  hope  that  his  valuable  life  would 
be  lengthened,  and  that  they  should  be  permitted 
longer  to  partake  of  the  instruction  to  be  derived 
from  his  bright  example  and  Christian  counsel. 
But  He  who  ordereth  all  in  perfect  wisdom,  and 
who  will  graciously  supply  the  spiritual  need  of 


20 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR 


those  who  look  in  faith  unto  Him,  saw  meet  to 
tGiminate  the  trials  of  this  his  faithful  servant, 
and  to  admit  him,  as  thero  is  every  reason  to 
believe,  to  the  participation  of  that  peace  and  joy 
which  are  reserved  for  the  righteous  in  the  life 
which  is  to  come, 

"  The  expressions  of  a  religious  nature,  that 
our  late  dear  friend  uttered  towards  the  close  of 
life,  were  not  numerous  :  but  they  all  partook  of 
that  humble,  yet  confiding  and  peaceful  charac- 
ter, that  distinguished  him  when  in  health,and  be- 
spoke a  mind  looking  towards  heaven,  of  which  ^ 
he  said,  he  had  '  had  a  pleasant  view,  particu- 
larly of  late  and  that  he  was  '  favored  to  feel 
very  httle  condemnation.'  At  different  times  he 
thus  expressed  himself:  The  prevaihng  de- 
sire of  my  mind  has  been,  for  many  years,  that 
I  might  close  in  peace.  I  have  had  many  bles- 
sings, many  temptations,  and  many  trials  in  my 
time  ;  but  have  been  mercifully  helped  through 
them.'  At  one  time,  evidently  under  great  ten- 
derness of  spirit,  he  observed,  *  The  shadow  of 
divine  mercy  is  very  broad  ;'  and  at  another, 
when  conversing  about  his  illness,  he  said,  ^  It 
is  a  source  of  great  consolation  to  know,  that  He 
who  formed  us  is  near.' 

^'  In  the  afternoon  of  the  day  preceding  his 
decease,  he  expressed  himself  to  the  following 
effect :  '  There  is  nothing  so  precious,  v.'hether 


OF   WiLLiAM  UROVEH, 


in. youth  or  in  age,  sickness  or  health,  as  a 
sense  of  the  divine  presence  and  love.  I  have 
had  great  cause  thankfully  to  believe^  that  the 
protecting  arm.  of  kind  Providencej  has  been 
with  me  all  my  life  long,  from  my  youth  up 
and,  after  a  pause,  added,  ^  It  is  my  greatest  de- 
sire that  my  sun.  which  now  seems  nearly  set. 
may  go  down  in  brightness,  without  a  cloud  ;  re- 
lying only  upon  the  goodness  of  the  Almighty  , 
who  can  change  a  hfe  of  suffering  for  one  of 
com.fort  and  endless  happiness — who  can  make 
a  death  bed  as  a  bed  of  roses.  Yea,  I  bless  thy 
holy  name,  thy  presence  and  love  can  make  a 
death  bed  as  a  bed  of  roses.'  Afterwards  he 
said,  in  nearly  these  words;  ^My  life  seem? 
fast  closing,  and  my  afflictions  nearly  at  an  end. 
I  have  been  greatly  afHicted,  [alluding  probably 
^to  his  illness,]  but  doubt  not  that  it  has  been  in 
unspeakable,  unerring  wisdom^,  that  I  have  been 
throv/n,  a,gain  and  again,  into  the  furnace  ;  v/hich 
is,  no  doubt,  designed  for  my  further  refinement. 
Oh !  may  all  the  purposes  of  the  Almighty  be 
fulfilled.  Oh  !  what  a  precious  state  is  that, 
I  where  nothing  is  v/anted  but  the  celestial  gate  to 
be  opened.  All  praise  I  ascribe  unto  the  Lord^s 
holy  name.' 

He  was  enabled  to  bear  with  great  patience 


See  the  Memorial  of  Thazted  Monthly  Mestinir. 
b2 


22 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIPx. 


and  Christian  fortitude,  the  extreme  sufferings 
which  he  endured  within  a  short  time  of  his  death; 
but,  for  a  few  hours  before  the  c]ose,he  was  mer- 
cifully relieved  from  all  pain,  and  his  end  was  re- 
markably peaceful.  He  died  the  11th  of  the 
10th  month,  1825,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of 
his  age.  _ 


CHAPTER  II. 


MEDITATIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS. 

1783. — 4  mo.  27.  How  different  a  character 
is  he  who  is  fond  of  procrastinating  and  delaying, 
from  him,  who,  with  a  wise  regard  to  the  un- 
certainty of  to-morrow,  nobly  improves  each 
opportunity  whilst  he  has  it. 

1783.  — 10  mo.  15.  From  disobedience  and 
difficulty,  surely  I  am  a  dwarf,  by  not  coming 
rightly  fonvard  to  the  duty  of  the  day.  How 
main  a  thing,  through  all,  is  an  attention  to  the 
conclusion.  Do  not  some  of  us  labor  and  toil 
ourselves,  to  do  that  from  fear,  which  those  who 
ai'e  in  the  life  of  goodness  do  from  love  ? 

1784.  — 10  mo.  13.  Oh  that  none  in  ease  and 
plenty  may  contribute,  improperly,  to  make  it 
difficult  for  those  in  less  favored  circumstances 
to  think  of  the  Author  of  their  beino-  with  2:rati- 
tude  and  love. 

1790. — 5  mo.  11.  ''While  ye  have  the 
light,  believe  in  the  hght,  that  ye  may  be  the 
.  children  of  the  light."  It  appears  a  precious 
thing  rightly  to  believe  in  the  light,  and  to  follow 
it:  treading  in  the  just  man's  path,  which  is  said 
to  be  ''  as  the  shining  light,  that  shineth  more 


24         JIEDITATIONS    AND  EEFLEOTIOKg. 

and  more  unto  uie  perfect  day."  It  is  probable 
that  many  under  our  name  do  not  believe  in  this 
light,  nor  expect,  through  iaithiulness  to  its  dis- 
coveries, to  be  .led  on  farther  and  further  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  will  of  God,  and  to  an  establish- 
ment in  his  peaceable  kingdom,  ■  even  whilst  in 
this  hie :  not  being  like  minded  with  a  remnant 
who  believe  that  his  kingdorn  ^s  come;  and  who' 
desire,  according  to  ability,  to  be  pressing  into 
it,'  that  they  may  be  faithful  subjects  of  it,  and 
that  the  government  may  be  on  the  shoulders  of 
Him  whom  they  desire  to  serve, 

87no.  ll.    it  is  a  fine  tiring  to  be  preserved 
i^irom  every"  snare.    I  believe  we  may  be  so  eii- 
.  .  gaged  in  things  v/hich  bear  the  appearance  of 
being  lawful,  and  even'necessary  and  incum.bent;, 
-   as  tolbe  disqualified  from  possessing  that  tender_, 
childlike,  attentive  state  of  mind,  v/hich  appears 
so  necessary  to  our  growth  in  a  divine  life,  and  to 
a  true  filial  obedience,  in  all  things,  to. the  will  of 
our  Heavenly  Father. 

1792.— 4.  mo.  12.  Oh  !  for  a  sincere  love 
and  attachment  to  that  pure  and  uhdefiled  re- 
ligion,  which  stands  in  a  filial  devotedness  of 
heart  to  do  the  Lord's  v/ill,  and  in  a  reverent, 
-holy  travail  of  soul,  to  be  made  truly  acquainted 
Avith  what  his  w^ill  is  ;  that  so  v/e  may  not  be  de- 
ceived, under  an  apprehension  that  we  are  fulfilling 
the  divine  will,  when  we  are  rather  frustrating  it 


MEDITATIONS   AND   REFLECTIONS.  25 

by  doing  our  own.  This,  I  believe,  may  be  the 
case,  even  in  things  v/hich  muy  have  a  good-like 
appearance. 

1799. — 6  mo.  13.  I  believe  it  is  good  for 
young  men  to  make  a  point  of  devoting  a  small 
portion,  at  least,  of  every  day,  to  read  a  httle  in 
the  Bible,  and  endeavor  after  a  little  calm  and 
quiet  in  their  minds.  Something  may  be  pre- 
sented to  the  mind  in  these  short  seasons  of  in- 
ward calm,  which  may  a  httle  nourish  and  cherish 
the  divine  life  in  the  soul,  and  make  room  for 
the  love  of  God  to  prevail  a  little ;  and  so,  as 
this  love  is  cherished  and  found  to  grow,  the  love 
of  the  world,  and  earnest  desire  after  it,  will 
lessen,  and  the  soul  be  prepared  to  take  its  chief 
dehght  in  something  spiritual  and  heavenly. 

1799. — 6  mo.  22.  I  feel  low,  under  a  sense 
of  my  want  of  the  necessary  qualification  for 
active  service  in  the  church.  Oh!  that  there 
may  be  more  of  a  waiting  for  the  putting  forth  ; 
and  a  deeper  and  more  frequently-renewed  travail 
after  dwelling  in  the  pure  life  of  religion,  and 
after  inward  communion  with  the  Lord; — to 
know  his  will,  and  receive  ability,  in  the  abase- 
ment and  abnegation  of  self,  to  do  it  to  his  glory, 
and  my  own  soul's  true  peace. 

1801. — 9  mo.  14.  Oh!  that  we  may  be 
made  what  the  Lord  would  have  us  to  be;  that 
is,  in  harmony  with  his  work  in  the  earth ;  stand- 


56 


MEDITATIONS   AND  REFLECTIONS. 


ing  faithful,  according  to  the  present  day's  ad- 
ministration and  service,  as  many  of  our  worthy 
predecessors  stood  faithful  in  their  day  and  time. 
The  great  thing  is,  to  he  found  in  our  lot,  let 
the  state  of  Truth's  cause  be  whatsoever  it  may 
in  the  world. 

I  think  I  see  a  great  danger  in  Friends  getting 
into  easy  circumstances  :  it  renders  them  not  so; V 
strong,  and  able  to  endure  hardness  as  good  sol- 
diers. I  believe  all  we  have  must  be  at  the  di- 
vine disposal,  and  so  felt  by  us,  before  we  can  be 
fully  qualified  to  endure  all  things  that  may  be 
required  of  a  disciple  of  Christ,  in  filling  up  his 
lot  in  the  militant  church.  .  ^ 

1810. — 8  mo.  S.  I  find  a  great  proneness  in 
the  mind  to  be,  every  now  and  then,  laying  hold 
of  something  wherein  to  expect  a  sort  of  perma- 
nency of  satisfaction,  if  not  of  delight ;  but  I  doubt 
my  capacity  to  do  this,  and  yet  retain  a  due  readi- 
ness sincerely  to  say,  "Thy  will  be  done,"  should 
these  things  be  called  for.  When  we  use  the 
words,  "Thy  will  be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in 
heaven,"  surely  w^e  mean  to  be  sincere ;  but 
what  submission  and  devotion  of  heart  and  will, 
does  this  imply  :  no  obstruction  or  resistance  to 
the  divine  will  "  as  in  heaven." 

I I  mo.  8.  I  believe  we  came  into  this  world 
for  the  great  and  momentous  purpose  of  being 
eternally  happy.    Even  the  present  life,  which 


MEDITATIONS   AND   REFLECTIONS.  21 


is  a  mixed  and  probationary  state,  is  replete 
\vith  numberless  blessings,  and  precious  enjo}'- 
ments,  along  with  the  attendant  trials.  And 
our  duty  and  highest  interest  is,  so  to  encounter 
the  trials  incident  to  this  present  existence,  and 
so  to  participate  of  the  comforts  and  m.ercies  af- 
forded, as  that  our  minds  may  be  capable  to  bless 
the  Lord  for  his  goodness,  in  giving  us  a  being, 
and  preserving  us ;  and  to  meet  the  end  with 
resignation  and  peace. 

11  mo.  10.  The  true  dignity  of  man— of  a 
Christian — consists  in  endeavoring  to  fill  up  his 
duty,  in  the  station  which  he  is  permitted  to  fill 
in  this  world.  There  are  few,  if  any  situations, 
in  which  a  man  who  is  upright  may  not  shine. — 
There  is  lustre  in  integrity ;  and  the  peace  which 
Christ  gives  to  his  humble,  dependent  children, 
can  reach  the  humble  cottager,  as  well  as  the  in- 
habitant of  the  mansion.  Many,  by  having  their 
eye  out  after  things  not  within  their  reach,  nor 
within  their  sphere,  neglect  or  overlook  surround- 
ing and  intended  blessings  ;  and  so  are  not  thank- 
ful, as  they  might  be.  Thankfulness  for  mer- 
cies received  is  a  very  precious  feeling,  and  gives 
a  sweet  rehsh  to  what  we  enjoy.  Let  us,  there- 
ore,  in  the  first  place,  be  sensible  and  feel  what 
we  are,  and  dihgently  occupy  and  improve  our 
talents  and  gifi;s  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  ;  and  de- 
sire, above  all  things,  to  be  kept  within  the  reach 


2S        MEDltATIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS. 


of  his  blessing ;  so  shall  the  increase,  if  permit- 
ted, be  enjoyed  without  violating  the  peace  of  our 
minds. 

1811.  — "4  mo.  28.  A  precious  sentiment  it 
is,  "  that  the  spirit  of  benevolence,  if  cherished 
and  encouraged,  sends  forth  fresh  shoots."  The 
soul  is  enriched  by  an  increase  of  benevolence, 
although  the  means  of  gratifying  or  exercising  it, 
to  an  ejttent.  adequate  to  our  feelings,  may  not  be 
within  our  power. 

1812.  — I  7710.  25.  It  is  a  precious  thing  to 
have  a  behef  and  feeling  produced  in  our  minds, 
that  we  are  under  the  divine  gracious  care  and 
protection.  Perhaps  I  have  not  sustained  more 
loss,  or  religious  disadvantage,  any  way,  than  I 
have  for  want  of  more  diligently  minding  the 
very  gentle  intimations  or  calls  to  inward  still- 
ness. A  feeling  of  a  connexion  with  the  Foun- 
tain of  Good  is,  above  all  things,  to  be  prized ; 
and  this  feeling  is  utterly  out  of  our  control  or 
command,  and  consequently  to  be  accepted  with 
reverence  and  cheerfulness ,whenever  vouchsafed. 
We  cannot  prize  it  too  much  :  it  is  a  treasure  in 
prosperity:  it  is  a  treasure  in  adversity :  it  will 
be  emphatically  a  treasure,  when  the  awful  mo- 
ments arrive  for  us  to  bid  an  eternal  farewell  to 
the  things  of  time  and  sense. 

8  mo.  22.  We  are,  indeed,  fearfully  and  won- 
derfully made.    From  the  nature  of  our  present 


MEDITATIONS   AND   REFLECTIONS.  29 


condition,  we  see  things  very  differently  at  dif- 
ferent times  ;  perhaps,  in  part,  occasioned  by  our 
attempting  to  see  and  judge  when  we  are  not  in 
a  situation  for  it, 

10  mo,  24.  Having  now,  except  about  three 
weeks,  completed  my  sixtieth  year,  1  may  say, 
that  in  turning  over  some  of  the  leaves  of  my 
past  lifcj  I  may  record  occasions  of  reverent  and 
humble  thankfulness,  for  having  been  permitted 
to  escape  with  as  little  of  wounds  and  l3ruises  as 
I  have ;  and  for  the  extension  of  divine  goodness 
and  mercy  towards  me,  many  ways.  And  I 
think  my  religious  experience,  if  I  may  call  any 
thing  which  I  have  known  by  that  name,  has 
been  much  found  in  the  path  of  faith,  rather  than 
of  sight.  Just  enough  vouchsafed  to  preserve 
me  a  believer  in  the  path,  and  in  the  power 
which  sustains  in  it.  Perhaps  this  has  been  the 
manner  in  w^hich  I  have  been  led  along,  because 
it  V7as  best  for  me,  as  most  calculated  to  keep  me 
humble  ;  often  having  nothing  good,  nor  know- 
ing how  to  come  at  any  good ;  but  at  times 
sweetly  refreshed  with  calmness  and  serenity, 
rather  than  with  the  spirit  of  warm  devotion,  or 
any  thing  like  ecstasy  or  rapture. 

1813. — 1  mo.  22.  The  great  thing  appears 
to  be,  to  have  the  right  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness  excited  and  preserved,  or  main- 
tained, in  the  mind ;  then  things  which  are  of 
c 


30         MEDITATIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS. 


an  earthly,  transitory,  or  unsatisfying  nature,  will 
be  trials,  as  they  prevent  a  participation  of  the 
blessed  fruits  of  this  righteousness.  Many  are 
resting  in  these  outward  enjoyments,  as  if  they 
were  the  end  of  our  being ;  but  the  true  Chris- 
tian, the  true  believer,  is  permitted  to  enjoy  abun- 
dance of  blessings,  without  resting  in  them,  and 
so  has  the  comfort  of  the  life  which  now  is,  and 
of  that  which  is  to  come. 

1814. — 3  mo.  24.  To  write  of  the  immedi- 
ate and  particular  influences  of  the  Spirit  of 
Truth  upon  the  mind,  in  the  way  we  understand 
and  believe  that  subject,  is  a  very  delicate  busi- 
ness, especially  when  an  application  is  made  to 
particular  and  striking  instances  ;  because  it  may 
often  happen  that  there  is  really  not  a  capacity 
in  the  persons  addressed,  to  receive  what  is  ad- 
vanced. Whether  the  doctrine  of  clear,  imme- 
diate revelation,  in  the  present  day,  be  truth  and 
reality,  as  we  most  surely  believe,  or  not,  it  must 
be  granted  to  be  possible  that  it  may  be  so  ;  that 
is,  that  it  may  be  truth. 

1814. — 4  mo.  1.  How  many  ways  to  involve 
the  mind  in  a  continual  something  that  seems 
plausible ;  and  so  not  keep  it  just  in  readiness  to 
hear  the  call,  to  hearken  to  the  voice,  or  yield  to 
the  gentle,  inclining  influence  of  divine  love  ;  an 
influence  often  so  soft  and  silent,  as  to  be  very, 
very  easily  put  by,  quashed,  lost,  forgotten. 


MEDITATIONS  AND   REFLECTIONS.  31 

1815. — 1 1  mo.  2.  The  occurrence  of  a  great 
variety  of  things  to  engage  the  attention,  on  our 
own  and  other  people's  account,  seems  to  fill  up 
much  of  the  time,  which  is  passing  over,  never 
to  return,  that  I  have  great  occasion  to  be  care- 
ful to  give  the  preference  to  those  things,  if  I 
can  happily  distinguish  them,  which  are  of  the 
most  importance ;  because  the  remaining  sands 
in  the  glass  are  spending  very  fast,  and,  most 
probably,  in  a  few  years,  at  the  longest,  there 
will  be  none  remaining.  Whilst  we  are  conflict- 
ing with  the  various  infinnities  of  our  nature,  it 
is  a  precious  thing,  to  those  who  are  favored,  un- 
der all,  and  through  all,  to  grow  in  rehgious  ex- 
perience ;  not  casting  away  the  shield,  either  in 
the  day,  or  in  the  night  season :  but  in  humble 
trust  and  dependence  on  divine  support^  press- 
ing forward,  holding  fast  the  profession  of  their 
faith,  not  easily  blown  about  by  floating  opin- 
ions, but  watching  for  the  manifestation  of  that 
light,  and  of  that  calming  influence  which  satis- 
fies the  soul,  and  gives  ability  to  rejoice,  amidst 
the  jeopardies  of  an  earthly  pilgrimage. 

1817. — 6  mo.  When  individuals,  through 
disobedience  or  unfaithfulness,  have  been  brought 
into  grievous  perplexity  and  embarrassment,  it 
often  happens,  that,  in  condescending  goodness 
towards  his  poor  creatures,  our  Almighty  Father 
does  not  will  their  continuance  in  this  wilderness 


32         MEDITATIONS   AND  REFLECTIONS. 


condition,  but  is  graciously  disposed  tol)ring  them 
out  of  it.  But  then,  if  we  would  come  forth 
perfect,  his  own  all-wise  process  must  be  sub- 
mitted to  with  patience  and  resignation.  What- 
ever the  provings  and  the  humiliation  required, 
we  may  rest  satisfied  that  they  are  necessary  to  ef- 
fect the  purpose  intended ;  and  if  we  are  at  length 
brought  through  so  as  to  stand  in  a  state  of  ac- 
ceptance before  Him,  and  to  partake  of  the  peace 
which  He  gives,  we  shall  not  have  to  say,  we 
have  suffered  more  for  the  attainment  of  the 
prize,  than  it  is  found  to  be  worth.  Oh !  the  un- 
speakable value,  to  the  exercised  mind,  of 
patience  and  resignation. 

.  1818. — 4  mo,  27.    conversing  this' 

morni^  onjthe  politics  of  Europe,  concluded 
with  this  beautiful  sentiment:  ''that  there  is 
nothing  substantial  and  satisfactory  but  the  Su- 
preme good ;  in  it,  the  deeper  we  go,  and  the 
more  largely  we  drink,  the  better  and  happier 
we  are ;  whereas,  in  outward  acquirements,  if 
we  could  attain  to  the  summit  and  perfection 
of  them,  the  very  possession  and  enjoyment 
palls." 

1818. — 9 mo.  6.  Oh!  the  inestimable  favor 
it  is,  to  be  true  believers,  and  thereby  to  be  made, 
from  time  to  time,  partakers  of  the  [spiritual] 
bread  which  is  broken,  and  the  wine  which  is  in 
mercy  handed  to  sustain,  to  animate,  to  enliven 
the  soul. 


MEDITATIONS   AND  REFLECTIONS.  33 


1819. — 6  mo.  15.  Oh!  for  some  share  of 
inheritance,  or  fellowship,  with  those  whom  the 
Lord  delighteth  to  bless. 

18-21. — 1  mo.  5.  Many  are  the  favors  which 
the  tried  and  exercised  servants  of  the  Lord  have 
to  commemorate,  in  the  course  of  their  devotion 
to  his  cause.  May  we  all,  in  our  vaiious  allot- 
ments, endeavor  to  be  more  and  more  preserved 
in  a  state  of  watchful  dependence  upon  Him  : 
that  so,  whether  at  home  or  abroad,  our  expe- 
rience of  his  goodness,  niercy,  and  truth,  may 
be  enlarged  and  confirmed,  to  our  own  consolation 
and  encouragement  of  others. 

1821.  — 5  77ZO.  20.  The  Yearly  Meeting  was 
largely  attended,  and  was  a  solid,  instinctive,  and 
interesting  season.  As  a  religious  society,  we 
have  much  indeed  to  be  thankful  for ;  and  I  do 
hope  there  is  much  to  be  encouraged  about,  as 
to  the  state  of  things  among  us,  although  much 
to  lament.  Perhaps  few  tilings  more  to  be 
lamented,  than  that  many  of  us  are  not  enough 
con-vinced,  that  there  is  no  advancing  in  true 
Christian  experience,  and  inheriting  the  liches, 
and  privileges,  and  consolations  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  without  submitting  to  his  yoke,  and  bear- 
ing his  cross. 

1822.  — 9  mo.  8.  Reverently  do  I  wish  to 
acknowledge  the  belief,  that  there  is  that  which 
can  richly  make  amends  for  every  privation, 

c2 


o4         MEDITATIONS   AND  REFLECTIONS. 

heal  every  breach,  cause  the  wilderness  and  the 
solitary  place  to  be  glad,  and  the  desert  to  re- 
joice and  blossom  as  the  rose.  But,  oh  !  for  an 
increase  of  capacity  to  look  unto  this,  and  to 
■\vaik  worthy  of  receiving  such  blessing. 

1823.  — 2  mo.  23.  It  is  a  great  privilegCjin 
affliction,  to  be  near  tender,  spnpathizing  friends; 
particularly,  may  I  not  say,  at  our  time  of  life, 
when  both  bodily  and  mental  energy  may  be 
considei'ed  oh  the  decline.  And  oh  I  that,  in 
all  our  trials,  both  inward  and  outward,  the  di- 
vine arm  of  everlasting  loving-kindness  and 
compassion  may  be  underneath^  to  bear  up  and 
sustain,  and  afford  us  a  safe  landing  at  last, 
beyond  the  reach  of  all  conflict  and  all  fear. 

18-23. — 7  mo.  21.  We  require  some  one  to 
speak  to  freely,  and  also  confidentially.  And 
besides,  how  greatly  is  human  comfort,  at  times, 
increased,  by  a  reciprocity  of  innocent  communi- 
cation. I  believe  it  relieves  the  more  weighty, 
and,  sometimes,  over-anxious  cogitations  of  the 
mind ;  and,  by  so  relieving,  contributes  to  our 
resuming  them  with  more  effect  and  advantage. 

1824.  — 3  mo.  7.  How  much  I  desire  that 
nothing,  amidst  all  the  ups  and  do\\Tis  that  occurs 
may  be  permitted  to  prevent  us  from  seeking  af- 
ter the  love  and  favor,  the  support  and  protec- 
tion of  our  Heavenly  Father.    I  think  I  scarce- 


MEDITATIONS   AND  IIEFLECTIONS. 


35 


Ij  ever  found  and  felt  it  more  needful  for  myself, 
than  now  of  late  time. 

Give  what  Thou  wilt,  without  Thee  we  are  poor. 
And  with  Thee,  rich,  take  what  Thou  wilt  away'. 

1S23.— 10  ?no.  12.  How  earnestly  to  be 
desired  is  a  complete  redemption  from  all  selfish- 
ness :  then  would  envy,  pride,  and  wrath,  no 
more  torment  the  poor  mind. 

1824. — 4  mo.  May  I,  with  reverence  and 
humility,  say,  that  I  believe  there  is  nothing  to 
separate  the  redeemed  soul  fi'om  the  spirit  of 
the  blessed  Redeemer ;  and  that,  where  He  is, 
there  will  also  his  servants  be.  He  that  is  in 
Christ  is  a  new  creature ;  and  being,  through 
redeeming  love  and  mercy,  brought  into  Him, 
and  continuing  in  Him,  who  is  the  resurrection 
and  the  life,  such  shall  never  die.  but  remain  in 
Him  forever  and  evermore. 

18-24. — 8.  mo.  1.  It  is  a  great  comfort,  when 
_  past  seventy,  to  be  pretty  well ;  so  as  to  enjoy 
the  bounty  of  kind  Providence,  and  endeavor 
to  improve  the  further  portion  of  time  allotted ; 
so  that  we  may,  through  mercy,  be  ready  for 
the  final,  awful  change,  when  it  comes. 

1 824 . — 1 2  ?no .  8.  How  unspeakably  worthy 
oiu'  love,  our  allegiance,  our  seeking  after,  and 
our  more  frequent  communion  is  the  Spirit  of 
Truth.    How  ought  it  to  be  [sought  after]  from. 


S6        MEDITATIONS   AND  REFLECTIONS'. 

day  to  day,  and  through  the  day,  so  as  to  raise 
and  bear  up  our  minds  above  the  things  of  time, 
even  whilst  we  are  necessarily  engaged  in  them: 
seeing  they  are  all  very  uncertain,  and  we  may 
be  taken  from  them,  or  they  from  us,  very  unex- 
pectedly. In  such  case,  to  have  our  minds 
previously  well  acquainted  with  divine  love, 
and,  as  it  were,  enwrapped  with  it — what  a 
treasure !  ' 

1825. — 3  mo.  What  a  fine  thing  it  is  to  be 
preserved  in  the  humility,  simplicity,  and  stabihty 
which  Truth  dves  to  its  sincere  and  devoted 
disciples.  Oh !  for  a  more  general,  deep  ac- 
quaintance with  the  value  of  true  quiet,  where 
the  thirst  for  change  and  novelty  is  not  felt ;  but 
a  sincere  waiting  and  desire  is  known,  after  that 
which  is  not  of  man,  nor  of  the  strength  and 
abilities  of  man,  but  of  the  Lord.  Here,  I  be- 
lieve, the  creature  will  be  kept  low,  diffident, 
and  fearful  of  itself ;  and  more  ready  and  de- 
sirous to  be  taught  and  instructed,  than  to  fancy 
itself  qualified  to  instruct  others. 

■  The  creation  of  the  world  and  of  man 

was,  and  is,  a  marvellous  display  of  the  divine 
glory ;  and  the  highest  dignity  and  happiness  of 
man,  is  to  live,  in  unison  with  this  effect  of  the 
divine  will  and  purpose,  that  we  may  not  miss  of 
intended  good  and  enjoyment,  which  it  seems 
are  only  to  be  this  way  come  at.   Our  Heavenly 


MEDITATIONS   AND   REFLECTIONS.     '  37 

Father  wants  nothing.  He  is  perfect ;  his  gloly 
is  perfect ;  and  this  or  that  act  are  only  a  display 
of  such  part  of  his  glory,  as  his  infinite  wisdom 
thinks  meet,  and  for  the  best,  at  any  particular 
period,  or  on  any  particular  occasion. 

 The  expression  of  beautiful  sentiments, 

and  the  reading  and  approving  of  them,  afford  a 
dehght  to  the  mind  ;  but  do  not  always  deepen 
us  in  rehgious  sensibility,  or  increase  our  love  for 
the  simplicity  of  the  Truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  or 
advance  us  in  the  consequent  knowledge  and 
experience  of  heavenly  good.  In  contemplating 
this  subject,  I  have  remembered  the  import  of  a 
few  expressions  of  an  eminent  minister :  ^'  We 
love  the  splendid,  pleasant  picture ;  but  this  is 
an  easy  purchase,  in  comparison  of  the  deep-hid, 
inestimable  pearl  of  substantial  truth." 

 This  morning  I  have  a  somewhat  lumi- 
nous view  of  the  nature  and  preciousness  of  the 
gospel  ministry,  and  other  rightly-religious  exer- 
cises. God  is  the  inexhaustible  fountain  of  all 
good :  there  is  no  goodness  but  what  comes  from 
Him  ;  consequently,  nothing  for  poor  human  na- 
ture to  plume  itself  upon.  This  divine  power 
goes  forth  in  such  manner,  time,  and  degree,  as 
is  consistent  with  its  own  infinite  wisdom  and 
goodness  ;  in  displays  of  beneficence,  mercy,  and 
blessing  to  its  creatures :  sometimes  in  immedi- 
ate communications  of  light,  fife,  and  divine  vir~ 


38 


MEDITATIONS   AND  REFLECTIONS. 


tue  and  sweetness  to  the  souls  of  individuals,  for 
their  own  advancement  in  the  path  of  salvation  ; 
and  sometimes  in  precious  gifts  of  qualification, 
for  the  benefit  of  others,  the  edification  of  the 
church,  and  for  other  religious  services. 

.    To  have  a  mind  preserved  in  such  a 

state  as  to  be  susceptible  of  the  impression  of 
heavenly  good,  1  esteem  of  primary  and  vital  im- 
portance. To  those  who  desire  to  witness  the 
fulness  of  gospel  privilege  and  blessing,  this  is 
very  essential ;  seeing  that  there  are  seasons  in 
which  such  a  sweetness  and  precious  solemnity 
are  to  be  witnessed,  as  is  comparable,  in  degree, 
to  heaven  upon  earth ;  as  well  as  that  it  is  our 
Christian  duty  to  lead  others,  by  our  example 
and  influence,  to  the  same  enjoyment. 

 By  how  many  and  how  various  means 

do  we  get  broken  down,  and  gradually  prepared 
for  our  eternal  separation  from  this  fi-ail  and  un- 
certain state  of  being ;  and  how  exceedingly  is  it 
to  be  desired  that  we  may  all  so  improve  the  time 
of  health  and  bodily  ability,  as  that,  when  sick- 
ness, pain,  and  affliction  are  measured  out  to  us, 
we  may  be  favored  with  that  sw^eetness  and  peace 
which  bear  up  the  mind  above  the  waves,  and 
enable  us  to  say,  the  rod  as  w^ell  as  the  staff  of 
the  Lord's  goodness,  are  our  comfort  and  our  re- 
joicing. 

 —  Convince  me,  more  and  more,  O  Lord  ! 


MEDITATIONS    AND  REFLECTIONS. 


39 


I  beseech  thee,  that  thy  time  is  the  only  time  for 
true  refreshment  and  comfort  to  the  poor  soul ; 
and  that  every  \isitation  of  thy  love  and  life  is 
exceedingly  precious,  and  not  to  be  trifled  with 
or  passed  by,  as  to  a  more  convenient  season  of 
mine. 

Grant,  I  pray  thee,  that  the  chief  study  of . 
my  life  may  be  to  be  found  in  a  state  of  readi- 
ness to  receive,  adopt,  and  yield  to  ever}' of  thy 
gracious  offers  of  love  and  life  ;  that  so  my  poor 
soul  may  indeed  have  a  share  in  the  spiritual 
kingdom  of  Thee,  the  living  and  true  God,  even 
in  this  life ;  and  so  come  increasingly  to  know 
that  Thou  art  the  only  true  riches,  and  that  ev- 
ery thing  else  is  fleeting  aud  uncertain. 

Remove,  I  pray  thee,  by  the  gentle  showers 
of  thy  celestial  rain,  the  hardness  of  my  heart, 
and  make  it  very  susceptible  of  the  impressions 
of  thy  Holy  Spirit ;  that  I  may  be  indeed  thy 
servant,  and  that  Thou  mayst  deUght  to  bless 
me,  and  increase  my  knowledge  and  experience 
in  thy  precious  truth,  and  in  Thyself,  the  only 
and  enduring  treasure  of  the  soul. 

 Oh,  adorable  Goodness,  Wisdom,  and 

Power!  preserve  me  so,  I  pray  thee,  that  noth- 
ing may  deprive  me  of  the  capacity  to  enjoy 
Thee,  according  to  the  manner  and  degree  in 
which  it  may  please  Thee,  in  thy  mercy,  to 
make  thyself  knowTi  to  thy  poor,  unworthy,  but 
depending  creature,  in  time  and  to  all  eternity. 


CHAPTER  III. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  LETTERS  AND  OTHER  PA^ 
PERS  RELATING  TO  THE  CHARACTER  AND 
PRINCIPLES  OF  OUR  RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY. 


Some  Remarks  on  the  Religious  Principles  of 
the  People  called  Qualcers,  as  to  TVars 
and  Fightings, 

It  becomes  those  who  profess  faith  towards 
Godj  and  who,  in  obedience  to  what  they  be- 
lieve to  be  their  religions  duty,  differ  in  some 
things  from  other  professors,-  to  be  willing,  in 
meeKness  and  fear,  to  render  a  reason  for  that 
difference.  And  as  there  may  be  many  who 
have  not  been  fully  informed  of  the  grounds  on 
which  the  people  called  Quakers,  ever  since 
they  w^ere  a  people,  have  borne  a  testimony 
against  Wars  and  Fightings,  it  may  be  accept- 
able to  some  serious  inquirers,  to  know  a  little 
what  those  grounds  are. 

1st.  They  believe  that  the  happiness  of  man- 
kind, in  an  especial  manner,  depends  upon  their 
living  in  the  fear  of  God  ;  walking  in  obedience 
to  the  secret  manifestations  of  Truth,  through 


OF   OUR  RELIGIOUS   SOCIETY.  41 


that  divine  principle  of  light  and  grace  given  to 
every  man  to  profit  with  ;  forsaking  every  thing 
which  this  divine  principle  manifests  to  he  evil ; 
and  following  after  every  thing  which  it  mani- 
fests to  be  righteous,  holy,  and  acceptable  to 
God  our  Creator,  our  beneficent  Preserver,  and 
final  Judge. 

2nd.  They  believe  that  the  Christian  relig- 
ion is  a  religion  of  universal  love  ;  and  that,  as 
the  minds  of  men  are,  through  divine  assistance, 
gathered  into  this  love,  they  become  qualified 
to  fulfil  that  injunction  of  Christ  Jesus,  the  au- 
thor of  the  Christian  religion  ;  "  Love  your  en- 
emies ;  bless  them  that  curse  you  ;  do  good  to 
them  that  hate  you."  They  believe  that  this 
truly  noble  and  happy  state  of  mind  is  not  at- 
tainable in  our  own  will  and  time  ;  but  that,  as 
mankind  yield  to  the  secret  influences  of  that 
divine  principle  of  light  and  grace  in  the  heart, 
alluded  to,  they  are  favored,  more  and  more,  to 
gain  an  ascendency  over  self-love,  and  to  wit- 
ness an  enlargement  of  heart,  so  as  to  desire  the 
good  of  all,  and  that  all  may  be  brought  to  par- 
take of  that  happiness  which  results  from  the 
favor  and  blessing  of  Almighty  God. 

3rd.  They  believe,  that  as  this  divine  love 
has  full  place  in  the  minds  of  any  people,  the 
understanding  becomes  enlightened,  so  as  clear- 
ly to  see  that  all  contention  is  out  of  the  Truth, 

D 


4:2     ON  THE  CHARACTER  AND  PRINCIPLES 

and  out  of  the  way  of  substantial  happiness.— 
And  a  desire  accompanies  these,  that  no  part  of 
their  conduct  may  contribute  to  discord  in  any 
shape,  either  between  famiHes,  between  neigh- 
bors, or  between  nations  ;  but  being  made  sen- 
sible that  all  contention  is  evil,  and  that  the  con- 
tinuance thereof  interrupts  the  comfort  of  man- 
kind, they  desire  to  be  preserved  from  doing  any 
thing  to  keep  it  alive  ;  and,  consequently,  to 
manifest  by  their  conduct,  that  they  believe  it 
more  consistent  for  the  professed  followers  of 
Christ  to  take  no  active  part  in  war;  because 
war  brings  grievous  calamity  upon  the  earth, 
destroys  the.  lives  of  our  fellow^creatures,  and 
tends  to  cherish  that  spirit  of  animosity  and  con- 
fusion which  is  inconsistent  with  the  gospel  of 
peace. 

4th.  They  believe  that  passage  of  the  Sacred 
Writings  to  be  particularly  encouraging  to  those 
who  profess  faith  in  God,  and  in  his  divine  prov- 
idence and  protection  :  "As  the  mountains  are 
round  about  Jerusalem,  so  the  Lord  is  round 
about  his  people,  from  henceforth  even  forever;" 
and  that  the  strongest  bulwark  to  any  nation,  is 
the  favor  and  protection  of  Him,  who  can  save 
with  equal  ease  in  times  of  great  perplexity,  as 
in  seasons  of  less  outward  difficulty. 

5th.  They  believe  that  the  way  to  obtain 
this  favor  and  protection,  is  to  walk  faithfldly 


OF  OUR  RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY. 


43 


before  him ;  reverently  depending  upon  Him, 
and  in  all  things  desiring  that  his  will  may  be 
the  rule  and  government  of  our  hves.  And 
they  believe  that,  for  a  nation  so  walking  and 
so  depending,  there  is  greater  safety  in  this 
trust  in  the  divine  arm  of  power,  than  in  the 
strength  of  armies  ;  and  that  it  is  beautifliUy 
consistent  for  those  in  any  nation  who  are 
thus  convinced  and  thus  believing,  to  endea- 
vor, in  humility  and  reverence,  to  cast  their 
care  upon  Hun,  desiring  to  be  resigned  to  ev- 
ery dispensation  of  his  pro\idence ;  and  that, 
whatever  happens,  they  may  be  found  clear 
in  his  siojht  of  havins;  contributed  to  the  dis- 
tress,  the  unspeakable  distress  and  bloodshed 
of  their  fellow-creatiu-es. 


Extracts  from  Letters,  &f'C. 

1815. — 12  mo.  29.  I  am  not  aware  that 
Friends,  as  a  Society,  rate  too  highly  the 
ground  on  which  they  are  called  to  stand ; 
although  unhappily,  too  many  of  us  do  not 
maintain  our  standing.  And  I  think  we  may 
safely  beheve  this,  without  ascribing  anything 
to  the  creature,  or  magnifying  the  people ; 
but  reverently  acquiescing  \^nth  and  acknow- 


44    ON   THE   CHAKACTER  AND  PRINCIPLES 

ledging  the  Power  whence  the  gifts  and  abil- 
ity -proceed. 

If,  by  a  mighty  hand,  and  by  a  stretched-out 
arm,  our  predecessors  were  brought  forth  from 
amidst  the  different  denominations  of  professors, 
and  enabled  to  bear  faithful  and  undeviating 
testimony  to  the  spirituality  of  the  gospel — ^to 
the  necessity  of  following  the  Captain  of  salva- 
tion, whithersoever  He  is  pleased  to  lead  by  his 
light  and  truth  manifested  in  the  secret  of  the 
soul ;  in  other  words,  in  the  path  of  self-denial 
and  the  daily  cross — to  the  necessity  of  avoiding 
all  conformity  with  formality,  all  unrighteous 
conformity  to  the  maxims,  policy,  fashions,  and 
friendships  of  the  world— to  hold  up  a  standard 
against  wars  and  against  oaths,  and  a  testimony 
to  the  freedom  of  gospel-ministry,  and  to  that 
worship  which,  laying  aside  all  rites  and  cere- 
monies, as  constituted  and  proper  appendages 
to  the  gospel  dispensation,  is  performed  in  spirit 
,and  in  truth  : — If  they  have  been  brought  to  the 
fblessed  and  glorious  avowal,  "  That  in  pure, 
silent  worship,  we  dwell  under  the  holy  Anoint- 
ing, and  feel  Christ  to  be  our  Shepherd;  that 
here  the  best  of  Teachers  ministers  to  the  seve- 
ral conditions  of  his  flock,  and  the  soul  receives, 
immediately  from  the  divine  Fountain,  that  with 
-  which  it  is  nourished  :" — If  this  people  have,, 
been  brought  thus  far,  surely  it  becomes  the 


OF  OUH  RELIGIOUS   SOCIETY.  45 

living  among  them,  in  the  depth  of  humility, 
reverence  and  fear,  to  say,  as  a  collective  body, 
"  He  that  is  mighty  hath  done  for  us  great  things, 
and  holy  is  his  name — has  placed  us  in  the 
midst  of  many  mercies,  in  a  state  of  awful  re- 
sponsibility. Are  we  not  brought  to  the  ac- 
knowledgment, that  "  the  opening  of  an  inward, 
silent  worship  in  this  nation,  is  a  precious  open- 
ing ;"  and  that  it  is  our  duty  to  walk  answerably 
to  the  nature  of  an  inward  communion  with  God, 
that  so  no  stumbling-block,  through  us,  may  be 
laid  in  the  way  of  others  ?  The  awfulness  of 
the  responsibility  does  not  annul  the  truth  of  it; 
and  I  beheve  it  is  unsafe  to  flinch  from  or  deny 
it. 

I  rejoice  greatly  in  the  spread  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  in  the  institution  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  as  a  present,  highly 
fovored  means  of  this  spread.  I  am  con- 
cerned, by  word  and  example,  to  encourage 
Bible-meetings  ;  and  I  think  am  never  so  com- 
fortable, if  I  am  prevented  attending  those  to 
which,  as  appertaining  to  our  district,  I  may  be 
said  to  belong :  I  mean  our  quarterly  committees 
and  our  anniversary  at  Saffron  Walden.  But 
1  see  great  cause,  indeed,  for  Friends  to  be  very 
watchful  on  such  occasions*  How  conspicuous 
seems  to  be  the  fondness  to  give  'applause;  if  not 
to  receive  d;  to  ^ay  nothing  of -so  liberally  as- 
d2 


46      ON  THE  CHARACTER  AND  PRINCIPLES 


cribing  to  the  Bible,  that  which  can  rightly  be 
ascribed  only  to  the  Divine  Spirit.  How  hum- 
ble, how  deep  in  travail,  then,  had  Friends  need 
be,  that  they  may  be  enabled  to  keep  their 
ground — to  support,  yea,  exalt  their  testimony 
to  the  necessity  of  help  aud  strength  from  the 
Lord,  for  the  advancement  of  his  own  cause.  I 
believe  they  may  be  greatly  useful  in  such  as- 
semblies, and,  by  the  savor  of  their  spirits, 
tend  at  times,  more  or  less,  to  season  others.— 
But  how  great  is  the  danger,  lest,  in  communi- 
cating strength  to  others,  we  lose,  in  degree, 
our  hold  of  ,  the  steadfastness  and  beauty  of  the 
pure  and  unchangeable  Truth. 

I  believe,  in  a  meeting  for  discipline,  rightly 
gathered  and  rightly  preserved,  the  united  ex- 
ercise of  living  members  is,  that  Truth  may  pre- 
vail over  all.  To  a  meeting  thus  circumstanced, 
I  believe  at  times,  a  very  precious  sensibility  is 
vouchsafed,  and  Friends  travel  on  in  the  sim- 
plicity of  filial  fear  and  reverence  ;  and  when  a 
nomination  is  depending.  Friends  become,  at 
times,  constrained,  at  other  times  feel  a  tender, 
brotherly,  sensible  freedom,  to  mention  a  name, 
without  daring  tO  stamp  it  high  :  but,  in  resigna- 
tion, leaving  it  to  make  its  way,  or  otherwise,  as 
the  Master  pleases ;  and  leaving  it  with  the 
^meeting,  whether  the  right  savour  attends  the 


OF   OUR  RELIGIOUS   SOCIETY.  41 

expression,  and  whether  there  may  be  a  right 
capacity  in  the  nominee,  to  accept  or  dechne. 
Thus  Friends  feel  one  for  another,  and  the  bond 
of  tender  gospel  affection  is  preserved  ;  and  the 
travail  for  the  cause  maintained,  and  its  pros- 
perity sought,  beyond  all  other  considerations. 
Oh  !  one  can  seem  to  conceive  what  a  precious 
thing  it  is,  when  Friends,  in  their  meetings  for 
discipline,  can  rightly  bow  under  the  solemnizing 
influence ;  not  stamping  anything  they  do,  high; 
but  fearing,  in  the  least  degree,  to  wound  the 
precious  cause,  or  contribute  to  disperse  the 
precious  solemnity,  either  by  speaking  or  by 
withholding.  I  speak  not,  very,  very  far  from 
it,  as  one  that  has  attained,  but  as  a  behever  in 
the  validity  of  these  things  :  and  in  the  favored 
condition  of  rightly-gathered,  and  rightly-pre- 
served meetings  for  discipline. 

1817. — 6  mo.  Whether  we  be  ministers, 
elders,  overseers,  or  of  whatever  class,  I  believe 
we  should  mind  where  we  are  ;  and  rather  bear 
a  burden,  perhaps  rightly  brought  upon  us,  from 
sympathy,  or  the  operation  and  influence  of  the 
Spirit,,  than  venture  to  relieve  ourselves,  when 
circumstances  and  the  want  of  opportunity  forbid. 
I  believe,  in  a  large  meeting,  a  diversity  of  ex- 
ercise may  be  excited  in  lively-spirited  Friends, 
which  it  would  be  very  inexpedient  to  bring 


48     ON  THE  CHARACTER  AND  imiNClPLES 

forth  in  words.    But  I  suppose  that  the  weighty, 
deeply-attentive,  patient  mind,  is  permitted  to 
discover  the  right  time  for  moving ;  and  then, 
the  baptizing  influence  being  dwelt  under  in  the 
exercise  of  the  gift,  the  meeting  feels  the  precious 
effect.    But  I  rather  think,  that  some  who  have 
a  gift  in  the  ministry,  miss  it  at  times,  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  it,  for  want  of  understanding,  at  the 
time,  the  state  of  the  meeting ;  perhaps,  partly, 
from  being  involved  in  their  own  exercise.—- 
When  a  meeting  is  baptized  under  a  livingi> 
ministry,  and  the  minister  sits  down,  it  is  a  nice 
thing  indeed  to  make  an  addition:  at  least, 
before  a  suitable  space  has  been  allowed.  As 
the  end  of  all  true  ministry  is  to  bring  the  hearers 
to  an  abiding  under  the  influence  of  the  Spirit  of 
Christ,  we  should  rejoice  when  this  is  in<  any, 
considerable  degree  produced  by  the  ministry  i 
of  any  Friend ;  and  be  very  carefol  not  to  step 
in,  in  a  way  to  dissipate  the  solemnity,  or  remove 
the  sense  which  has  thus  profitably  been  be- 
gotten.   At  the  same  time,  it  is  very  desirable 
that  no  rightly  appointed  offering  should  be  - 
prevented  ;  and  the  diversity  of  states  and  con- 
ditions is  to  be  remembered.    So  that  it  is  indeed 
a  mystery ;  and  a  very  weighty  thing  is  living, 
baptizing,  ministry. 

I  remember,  whilst  on  this  subject,  a  remark  v 
of  dear  Henry  Tuke,  in  .our  quarterly  meeting, . 


OF   OUR  RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY. 


49 


a  pretty  many  years  ago,  that  he  thought  hardly 
a  greater  evil  could  befall  us,  as  a  religious 
society,  than  an  unbaptized  ministry.  As  to 
offerings  in  the  ministry,  rendered  unseasonable 
fi'om  the  circumstance  of  a  meetins;  beino;  in 
measure  baptized  by  previous  ministry,  I  believe 
solid,  judicious  elders  might  be  greatly  helpful 
to  our  dear  ministering  friends  of  less  experience: 
they  are  much  to  be  felt  for,  and  so  are  meet- 
ings. 

1821. — 5  7/10,  19.  My  mind  so  sincerely 
entertains  the  belief,  that  all  good  cometh  from 
God,  and  therefore  must  be  patiently  and  re- 
verently waited  for,  that  I  can  heartily  join  in 
desire,  that,  in  our  meetings  for  discipline,  the 
creature  may  be  kept  humble,  simple,  and  de- 
pendent; looking  for  the  blessing  on  its  feeble  en- 
deavors, unto  Him  who  is  the  Alpha  and  Omega, 
the  inexhaustible  source  both  of  strength  and 
consolation.  It  behoves  the  rightly  exercised,  to 
be  especially  careful,  to  keep  their  posts  in  such 
meetincrs :  that  nothinor  draw  them  off  their 
gaiard,  or  betray  them  into  movements  unworthy 
of  the  faithful  followers  of  the  Lamb.  The  ex- 
ercised frame  of  their  spirits  might  be  sweetly 
encouraging  to  younger,  well-inclined  Friends, 
and  thus  strength  be  progressively  gained  to  the 
meeting.    I  am  not  sure  whether  it  is  possible. 


50     ON  THE  CHARACTER  AND  PRINCIPLES 

by  words,  to  convince  the  gainsayers,  if  many 
such  there  be,  that  our  meetings  for  discipline 
are  divinely  owned  and  crowned ;  but  if  those 
who  know  the  Truth,  and  love  it,  would  keep 
their  ranks  faithfully,  with  meekness  and  lowli- 
ness, yet  in  stability  and  gospel-beauty,  it  would, 
perhaps,  go  further  than  any  thing  else ;  and  I 
believe  these,  rightly  engaged,  would  be  blessed 
in  meetings,  and  meetings  blessed  in  them. 

I  think,  in  meetings  for  discipline,  made  up 
of  a  great  variety  of  states  and  conditions,  it  is  a 
precious  thing  that  we  endeavor  to  gather  into 
silence  ;  and  may  we  not  consider  the  solemnity 
which  sometimes  prevails,  to  be  like  a  mantle 
cast  over  us,  preparatory  to  entering  on  the 
business,  and  to  proceeding  in  order,  as  the  sub- 
jects successively  rise  before  us  ;  and  perhaps, 
in  the  condescension  of  Him  who  knows  the 
circumstances  and  state  of  every  mind,  it  may  be 
permitted,  that  there  should  be  an  entering  into 
the  concerns  of  the  meeting,  by  many,  or  by 
most  present,  according  to  their  present  capacity, 
growth,  and  attainment.  And  in  a  degree  of 
integrity  and  simplicity,  without  much  religious 
experience  in  some,  there  may  be  a  desire  that 
the  right  thing  may  be  promoted  ;  and  by  these, 
a  few  words  expressed,  without  offence  or  wound 
to  the  meeting. 


OF   OUR  RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY. 


51 


1822. — 117720.  17.  May  we  not  with  rever- 
ence belie-ve,  when  the  jNIost  High  was  pleased, 
in  the  going  forth  of  his  \nsdom  and  of  his  mercy, 
to  gather  the  rehgious  society  of  which  we  have 
the  unspeakable  privilege  of  being  members,  that 
he  proposed  to  bring  them  forth  as  a  people, 
wholly  separated  from  the  apostacy,  which  had 
previously  so  overwhelmed  the  Christian  world; 
giving,  in  a  wonderful  degree,  light,  and  power 
to  discern,  exhibit,  and  faithfully  testify  against 
the  spirit,  and  the  fruits  of  that  apostacy  : — in 
other  words,  to  call  forth  a  people  who  should 
aim  at  perfection,  in  accordance  \nth  our  blessed 
Saviour's  injunction:  Be  ye,  therefore,  perfect, 
even  as  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  is  per- 
fect :" — who  should  aim  at  a  state  of  perfect 
acceptance  with  Him  ;  compromising  nothing  ; 
abating  nothing ;  but  pressing  on,  through  all 
discouragement  and  opposition,  towards  the 
mark  for  the  prize — the  blessed  prize  of  un- 
alloyed peace. 

If  this  were  the  case,  can  we  wonder  that 
they  were  very  quick  of  discernment,  respecting 
any  thing  that  came  in  their  way,  which  was, 
either  in  root  or  in  branch,  appertaining  to  the 
apostacy?  As  they  sought  the  glory  of  God, 
they  were  very  zealous  against  what  they  be- 
lieved derogatory  therefrom.  As  they  loved  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  they  were  grieved  and 


52     ON  THE  CHARACT^ER  AND  PRINCIPLES 

offended  at  any  thing  which  they  thought  mih- 
tated  against  the  purity  and  simphcity  of  it.— 
The  persecutions  and  trials  which  they  met 
with,  joined  with  the  convictive  evidence  of 
Truth  in  their  own  minds,  tended  greatly  to 
wean  them  from  the  world,  and  to  fix  their  at- 
tention closely  on  promoting  the  glory  of  God  ; 
therein  securing  their  own  happiness,  and  con- 
ducing to  the  happiness  of  others  in  this  life,  and, 
finally,  in  that  kingdom  whereunto  the  robber 
and  destroyer  cannot  come. 

Can  we,  without  tender  emotion,  contem- 
plate what  different  conclusions  will  be  produced 
respecting  the  same  subjects,  where,  on  one 
hand,  a  people  are  zealously,  yet  reverently  and 
humbly,  pursuing  the  glory  of  God,  as  the 
principal  thing,  or  with  an  undivided  aim';  or. 
where,  on  the  other  hand,  the  spirit,  the  maxims, 
and  the  enjoyments  of  the  world,  are  claiming  a 
very  considerable  proj)ortion  of  the  attention  of 
mind,  and  the  strength  of  its  faculties  ?  In  the 
former  case,  how  nice,  tender,  and  scrupulous, 
that  nothing  be  admitted,  trenching  at  all  upon 
their  allegiance  to  God,  and  their  testimony 
against  whatever  has  sprung  fi^om  the  apostasy, 
or  militates  against  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ ;  endeavoring  to  be  faithful  in  every 
point,  and  being  exceedingly  jealous  of  what- 
ever is  either  decidedly  inconsistent  with  the 


OF    OCR   RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY. 


53 


purity  of  the  Gospol,  or  that  is  of  such  a  com- 
plexion. In  the  latter  case,  what  nice  distinc- 
tions are  sought  up,  and  found  out;  what  subtle 
reasonings,  tending  to  lessen  suffering — to  abate 
the  distinction  between  the  humble,  devoted 
follower,  and  those  who  appear  willing  to  run 
the  hazard  of  that  which  may  eventually  dis- 
tress, if  not  lay  w^aste,  the  Society ;  keeping  as 
near  the  world's  maxims  as  they  can,  with 
tolerable  satisfaction  ;  and  having,  perhaps,  the 
right  eye  towards  it,  and  the  left  eye  towards 
the  kingdom  everlasting. 


CHAPTER  IV'. 


LETTERS  AND   OTHER  PAPERS  ADDRESSED 
TO  THOSE  IN  EARLY  LIFE. 


Tendei'  Counsel  to  the  Youug. 

In  looking  towards  the  young  men  in  our 
religious  Society,  and  esteeming  them  a  precious 
and  very  interesting  part  of  the  body,  I  con- 
sider their  preservation  in  the  midst  of  the 
dangers  of  the  world,  a  most  worthy  object  of 
attention.  I  believe  some  of  them,  from  cir- 
cumstances  which  occur,  are  led,  at  an  early 
age,  into  temptations  and  deviations,  that  eventu- 
ally tend  to  their  perplexity  and  distress ;  and 
that  they,  in  many  instances,  lose  a  state  of  com- 
parative innocence,  before  they  are  rightly  aware 
of  the  value  of  themselves,  and  how  much  the 
sweetness  and  true  enjoyment  of  life,  are  in- 
creased by  humbly  walking  in  the  fear  of  God ; 
not  in  slavish,  but  filial  fear;  for  He  is  our 
gracious  Father,  and  the  fountain  of  all  blessing. 

I  am  inclined,  in  affectionate  desire  that  they 
may  not  forfeit  the  substance  of  comfort,  through 


LETTERS  ADDRESSED  TO  THE  YOUNG.  55 

a  pursuit  of  the  shadow,  to  recommend  the 
follo\^ing  short  hints  : — 

I  beheve  it  is  good  for  young  men,  to  make  a 
point  of  devoting  a  small  portion  of  time — a 
few  moments — every  day,  to  read  a  little  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  to  endeavor  to  yield  their 
minds,  in  sincerity,  into  a  short  calm  and  quiet. 
For,  in  divine  loving-kindness,  something  may 
be  vouchsafed  and  communicated,  in  these  short 
seasons"  of  mental  recollection,  which  will,  in 
degree,  nourish  and  cherish  the  Divine  Life  in 
the  soul,  so  that  the  Love  of  God  will  be  felt  to 
prevail  a  little  ;  and  as  this  love  is  entertained, 
and  found  to  increase,  the  love  of  the  world,  and 
the  anxious  desire  after  its  enjoyments,  will 
lessen,  and  the  mind  be  prepared  to  take  its 
chief  delight  in  something  spiritual  and  heavenly. 
This  experience  will  prove  a  peniianent  treasure. 


Thoughts  on  Company  and  Boolcs. 

1  wish,  to  feel  for  young  people,  under  the  va- 
rious temptations  and  trials  to  which  the  years  of 
inexperience  are  exposed.  They  are  naturally 
and  reasonably  inchned  to  learn,  and  to  accom- 
plish themselves  in  ornament  and  usefulness. — 
To  this  end,  as  well  as  for  temporary  gratifica- 


56 


LliTTERS   AND   OTHER  PAPEIiS 


tion,  they  value  and  prefer  company  and  books. 
Most  of  them,  perhaps,  would  sdij  good  compa- 
ny and  good  books  ;  and  it  is  a  delicate  and  very 
interesting  matter  to  determine  in  what  degree 
to  discourage,  or  to  countenance  this  inclination. 
It  is  an  unspeakable  favor,  however,  early  in 
life,  to  know,  that,  in  the  silence  and  retirement 
of  the  mind,  there  is  instruction  and  comfort  to 
be  met  with,  beyond  what  can  be  expected,  ei- 
ther from  even  good  company,  or  good  books. 
It  is  observable,  by  the  attentive  mind,  that 
there  may  be  an  enjoyment  of  books  and  of 
company  which  strengthens  us  in  the  love,  es- 
teem, and  pursuit  of  this  silence  and  retirement  ] 
and  there  is  an  enjoyment  of  good  books  and 
good  company,  which  weakens  and  enfeebles 
the  mind,  in  its  capacity  to  love,  pursue,  and 
enjoy  this  profitable  silence  and  meditation. — 
Here,  then,  dear  young  friend,  whosoever  thou 
art,  is  the  point  of  wisdom.    Mind,  day  by  day, 
and  through  all,  an  inward  sense  respecting 
things,  and  thou  mayst  be  favored  to  perceive 
what  thy  duty  calls  for  at  thy  hands,  as  to  thy 
outward,  temporal,  domestic,  or  social  occupa- 
tions ;  and  then  what  time  thou  canst  properly 
spare  for  company  and  books,  and  how  much 
of  either  thou  canst  enjoy,  with  religious  bene- 
fit to  thy  own  mind.    Much  company  and  many 
books,  or  much  reading,  have  often  a  direc(;  ten- 


ADDRESSED   TO   THE  YOUNG. 


57 


dency  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  mind  out- 
ward, instead  of  inward.  And  here  there  is  need 
of  wise  discrimination.  If  thy  company,  or  thy 
reading,  tends  to  give  thee  a  humbhng  view  of 
thyself,  and  of  thy  many  frailties  and  infiraiities, 
and  to  increase  the  ardor  of  thy  mind,  in  the 
pursuit  of  divine  .help,  of  mward  quietude,  and 
sweet,  enriching  peace,  thou  mayst  conclude  so 
much  of  it  is  good  for  thee ;  but  if  either  of 
them  be  such,  or  indulged  in  to  such  a  degree, 
as  unprofitably  to  occupy  thy  mind,  and  rather 
indispose  than  encourage  thee  in  the  love  of  in- 
ward recollection  and  meditation,  thou  mayst 
safely  conclude  there  is  a  snare  in  it,  and  that 
there  is  danger  lest  the  durable  and  precious 
substance  may  be  lost  in  the  pursuit  of  the 
shadow. 


The  three  following  Letters  were  written  to 
young  men  who  lived  with  TV.  G. 
as  apprentices, 

1801. — 9  mo.  Being  favored  to  desire  that 
thou,  and  the  other  young  men,  may  be  kept  in 
a  reverent,  tender  fear  of  offending  the  Lord 
your  ^laker  in  any  thing,  I  seemed  most  easy 
to  attempt  a  few  lines  to  thee,  after  this  man- 
e2 


58 


LETTERS   AND   OTilER  PARERS 


ner,  without  any  wish  to  write  much,  but  so  as 
to  reach  the  divine  witness  on  thy  mind. 

I  tenderly  request  thee  to  w'eigh  these  re- 
marks sohdly ;  and  at  such  time  as  thy  mind  is 
most  favored  with  good  desires  for  thyself,  and 
at  such  times  as  thou  art  favored  to  crave  that, 
when  thou  hast  done  with  the  things  of  time, 
thou  mayst  be  found  worthy  to  have  a  place  in 
the  mansions  of  eternal  rest  and  peace.  JVow, 
I  believe  that  the  w^ay  to  be  truly  happy,  is  to 
endeavor  to  do  the  will  of  God.  The  w^ay  to 
enjoy  the  blessings  intended  for  his  dear  chil- 
dren, is  to  serve  Him,  and  obey  Him  in  child- 
like simplicity ;  to  dwell  under  a  sense  that  He 
is  our  Father ;  and  to  look  up  to  Him,  as  He 
that  can  provide  for  us,  take  care  of  us,  lead  us, 
feed  us,  and  keep  us.  To  have  this  sense  upon 
the  mind  is  very  precious,  and  is  what  I  crave 
for  me  and  mine,  and  those  under  my  care. — 
Here  self  is  gradually  reduced,  and  kept  under  ; 
and  we  are  made  sensible,  that  there  is  no  safe- 
ty for  us,  whatever  may  be  our  attainments,  but 
as  we  are  doing  his  will ;  and  as  w^e  are  meas- 
urably clothed  with  a  tender,  filial  fear,  lest  we 
should  be  found  doing  any  thing  that  would  de- 
prive us  of  a  sense  of  his  love  upon  our  spirits." 
As  this  is  not  at  our  command,  so  we  are  led 
to  prize  it,  when  He  is  pleased  to  favor  with  it ; 
and  when  it  is  withdrawn,  and  we  are  left  bar- 


ADDRESSED   TO   THE  YOUNG. 


59 


ren,  and  poor,  and  stripped,  and  have  nothing, 
as  it  were,  to  lean  upon,  and  no  feehng  of  in- 
ward support  and  comfort,  oh  !  what  poor  things 
we  are,  let  things  in  the  outward  be  as  they 
may,  ever  so  fair  and  flourishing  :  they  are  fleet- 
ing and  uncertain,  w^earing  away  one  day  after 
another,  and  leaving  us  in  an  unprofitable  state, 
if  we  have  not  something  \^-ithin  to  animate  and 
enliven  our  minds.  As  we  come  to  make  a 
right  estimate  of  things,  and  are  favored  to  love 
the  TiTith  above  all,  and  to  value  a  sweet  and 
quiet  mind,  and  the  feeling  of  diiine  love  upon 
our  spirits,  above  the  transient  enjoyments  of 
time,  we  come  to  feel  and  to  know,  that  noth- 
ing is  a  little  thing  to  us,  which  prevents  us 
from  drawing  nigh  to  the  Lord  in  our  hearts,  and 
oflering  up  ourselves  to  Him  in  secret  dedica- 
tion, [saying,]  Here  I  am :  make  me  to  be 
thine,  and  preserve  me  from  offending  Thee  in 
thought,  word,  or  deed  ;  that  so  Thou  mayst  be 
mercifully  pleased  to  enrich  my  mind  with  the 
light  of  thy  countenance,  and  to  favor  me  with 
thy  life-giving  presence." 


 As  time  is  very  uncertain  to  us  all,  both 

young  and  old^  and  we  know  not  whether  an- 
other opportunity  so'  favorable  may  present,  I 


60 


LETTEllS   AND   OTHER  PAPEllS 


feel  a  tender  inclination  now,  at  parting,  to  tell 
thee,  that  I  sincerely  wish  thee  well ;  and  un- 
der that  influence,  to  call  thy  attention  to  thy 
own  immediate  situation,  that,  by  a  discreet  and 
timely  consideration,  thou  mayst  avoid  some  of 
the  dangers  to  which  I  think  thou  art  likely  to 
be  exposed.  Thy  time  of  life,  and  the  time  of 
a  young  man's  engaging  in  the  world  for  him- 
self, is  attended  with  many  snares.  Gilded  pros-/ 
pects,  which  are  calculated  to  deceive  the  inex- 
perienced mind,  if  not  strictly  on  its  watch,  are 
apt  to  present ;  and  a  state  of  innocence  liable 
to  be  interrupted,  if  not  lost,  which  cannot  be 
recovered  but  through  deep  suffering. 

I  apprehend  thou  art  favored  to  hcive  a  moth-  . 
er  tenderly  exercised  in  her  spirit  for  thy  good. 
This  is  a  first-rate  blessing.  This  was  my  case  ; 
and  the  care  and  counsel  of  my  dear  mother, 
when  I  was  very  young,  I  believe,  made  impres- 
sions which  have  never  been  erased.  She  taught 
me  early  to  know  that  I  was  not  my  own,  nor  at 
my  own  disposal ;  and  that,  if  I  would  be  safe 
and  happy,  I  must  look  to  the  Lord  for  counsel. 
Now  this  I  wish  for  thee.  In  all  thy  movements, 
be  sure  keep  this  in  mind.  It  will,  I  trust,  be 
an  inestimable  treasure  to  thee ;  confirming,  in 
thy  happy  experience,  that  the  fear  of  the  Lord 
is  a  fountain  of  life,  preserving  from  the  snares 
of  death.    When  temptations,  of  whatever  de- 


ADDRESSED   TO   THE   YOUNG.  61 

scriptioDj  assail,  forget  not  the  fear  of  tlie  Lord  : 
that  thereby  thou  mayst  be  favored  to  witness 
preservation,  and  escape.  Be  in  earnest  to  be 
good  ; — the  only  way  to  be  happy.  If,  through 
unwatchfulness  at  any  time,  thou  art  in  any  de- 
gree overcome,  be  sure  thou  be  willing  to  come 
under  condemnation,  and  bear  the  chastening 
hand  for  disobedience  :  be  willing  to  endure  af- 
fliction for  transgression,  and  do  not  flinch  fi'ora 
it.  Let  it  have  its  appointed  season,  and  the 
dispensation  of  condemnation  will  have  a  refin- 
ing tendency,  and  thou  wilt  be  likely  to  come 
up  from  the  washing-pool,  from  time  to  time, 
vvith  increased  strength  to  resist  succeeding 
temptations.  We  must  not  expect  to  be  ex- 
empt from  these.  Bearing  this  reproof  and  chas- 
tisement will  give  thy  mind  weight  and  soUdity  ; 
and  thou  wilt,  I  trust,  come  to  be  less  and  less 
susceptible  of  the  allurements  of  the  trifling 
things  of  the  world,  and  thou  w^ilt  be  more  and 
more  enabled  to  set  a  right  value  upon  things. 
Unlawful  things,  and  trifling  things,  will  come 
to  have  their  proper  character  stamped  upon 
them,  in  thy  view ;  and  thou  wilt  be  likely  to 
increase  in  thy  love  for  quietness,  watchfulness, 
and  meditation.  As  we  are  sincere  and  in  ear- 
nest, although  the  root  of  evil  as  well  as  of  good 
lies  deep  in  the  heart,  we  may  find  that,  as 
tilings  of  an  outward  nature  are  permitted  to  be 


62  LETTERS   ANi)   OTHER  PAPERS 


snares  and  baits  to  our  minds ;  so,  many  things 
of  an  outward  nature  are  permitted  to  be,  relig- 
iously, helps  and  comforts,  and  a  strength  to  us, 
in  our  journey  through  time  to  an  everlasting 
home.  Thou  wilt  find  that  it  is  good  to  prefer 
the  acquaintance  of  those  who,  thou  believest, 
sincerely  fear  God,  and  to  read  such  books  as 
tend  to  bring  our  attention  home,  and  to 
strengthen  this  fear  in  our  own  hearts.  Light 
and  frothy  company  and  light  and  frothy  books, 
though  specious,  thou  wilt  find  wound  the  peace 
of  the  mind,  estrange  it  from  the  fear  of  which 
I  have  been  speaking,  and  indispose  to  serious- 
ness and  heavenly-mindedness. 

God  is  the  source  and  centre  of  happiness. — 
In  proportion  as  w^e  yield  ourselves  to  things 
which  the  Light  he  has  afforded  us  testifies 
against,  in  the  secret  of  the  soul,  we  go  from 
Him,  and  go  into  confusion  ;  and  so  miss  of  the 
mercies,  the  favors,  the  consolations,  which  He  ^ 
is  permitting  those  to  partake  of,  who  dread 
nothing  so  much  as  losing  his  divine  approbation, 
and  the  sweetness  resulting  from  it.  Do  not  be 
halting,  and  double-minded,  I  entreat  thee ;  but 
yield  thyself  up  to  be  a  consistent  Friend,  to 
speak,  act,  and  appear  as  such,  and  I  believe 
thou  wilt  be  blest. 

When  things  present,  bring  them  to  the 
Light :  if  they  will  bear  the  test,  we  may  con- 


ADDRESSED   TO   THE  YOtNG. 


63 


elude  they  make  for  lasting  peace  ;  if  tliey  will 
not,  they  make  for  perplexity,  and,  sooner  or 
later,  for  distress. 

My  heart  desires  the  illumination  and  strength- 
ening of  thy  mind,  to  follow  that  which  adorns 
the  humble  Christian,  and  "to  flee  that  wdiich 
leavens  into  the  spirit  and  friendship  of  the 
world,  and  ends  in  disappointment  and  sorrow. 

Dear  ,  now  is  the  time.    Learn  to  weigh 

things  correctly  :  often  consult  the  pure  witness 
in  thy  own  heart ;  mark  well  and  attentively 
what  it  leads  to,  and  what  it  leads  from  ;  and 
may  the  blessing  of  preservation  attend  thee,  is 
my  heart's  desire. 

Thy  well-wishing  and  affectionate  friend, 

W.  G. 


 As  thou  art  about  finishing  thy  appren- 
ticeship, I  have  had  it  at  times  on  my  mind,  to 
express  a  few  things  in  writing  before  we  part ; 
as  what  is  TVTitten  sometimes  remains  longer  un- 
der notice  than  what  is  spoken,  and  may  be  oc- 
casionally referred  to,  in  moments  of  affection- 
ate recollection  of  those  with  whom,  and  under 
whose  care,  so  considerable  and  so  important  a 
portion  of  time  has  been  passed. 

I  have  no  reason  to  think  that  thy  coming  to 


64  LETTERS   AND   OTHER  PAPERS        ^  ' 

live  with  us  was  wrong  ;  and  I  think  it  no  small 
privilege  that  we  have  got  through,  so  as  to  love 
one  another  at  the  conclusion  ;  and  I  hope  that, 
as  we  are  preserved  to  desire  well  for  ourselves, 
in  the  best  sense,  we  shall  continue,  at  seasons, 
to  remember  one  another  with  pleasure  and  af- 
fection. 

As  to  business,  I  hope  thou  hast  attained  a 
prett}^  competent  knowledge  of  it ;  such  as  will, 
with  humility  and  industry,  under  the  divine 
blessing,  promote  thy  getting,  in  due  time,  com- 
fortably established  for  thyself.  But  my  prin- 
cipal object,  at  present,  is  thy  preservation  out 
of  those  things  which  hinder  or  retard  an  ad- 
vancement in  the  truth  ;  and  if  we  miss  of  that, 
how  transitory,  and  of  how  little  value,  is  every 
thing  else. 

Thou  hast  much  to  be  thankful  for  in  the  in- 
estimable favor  of  a  religious  parent,  who  has  so- 
licitously cared  for  thy  best  welfare  ;  and  I  think 
thy  mind  has  been,  through  outward  and  inward 
means,  so  imbued  with  a  sense  of  what  is  good 
and  excellent,  that,  if  thou  art  properly  watch- 
ful, thou  wilt  be  blest  with  an  increase  of  spirit- 
ual knowledge  and  spiritual  strength,  and  of  ca- 
pacity  to  overcome  those  propensities  to  which 
by  nature  we  are  prone.  In  order  to  this,  I  be- 
seech thee  in  an  especial  manner,  to  be  careful 
what  company  thou  joinest  with.    I  think  thy 


.UNDRESSED   TO   THE  YOUNG. 


65 


own  happiness  much  depends  upon  it.  It  was 
rather  before  thy  time  of  hfe  that  my  mind  be- 
came seriously  arrested,  and  a  desire  raised  in 
me  after  the  knovdedge  of  substantial  good. — 
This  good,  dear  ,  is  to  be  kno\^Ti,  I  be- 
lieve, by  submission  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  un- 
der which  the  divine  light  breaks  in  upon  the 
mind  with  sweet  instruction,  to  our  edification 
and  help.  Though  in  this  process  our  own  wills 
are  frequently  opposed,  yet  it  is  here  we  are 
made  acquainted  with  that  wliich  nothing  else 
can  give  us.  1  beheve  the  experience  of  many 
has  proved  this  to  be  true.  Suffer  therefore, 
nobody  to  deceive  thee,  or  tempt  thee  to  beheve 
that  there  is  any  other  way  to  be  happy.  In 
submission  to  the  refining  discipline  of  the  cross 
of  Christ,  the  mind  is  prepared  to  receive  good 
from  the  divine  hand,  both  inward  and  outward 
good,  and  to  receive  it  with  true  relish  and  with 
thankfulness  ;  and  I  think  we  shall  not  become 
happy  without  it.  As  the  mind,  by  this  refin- 
ing submission,  is  brought  into  a  state  of  fitness 
to  receive,  I  beheve  that  divine  mercy  and  good- 
ness is  ready  to  bestow;  and  here  a  precious 
state  is  known.  And  as  thou  seest  things  thus, 
thou  wilt  find  that  it  must,  indeed,  be  good  com- 
pany, to  be  better  than  no  company  ;  and  thou 
wilt  find  that  too  many  young  men,  as  well  as  ' 
older  ones,  are  too  much  unacquainted  with  the  , 


66  LETTERS  AND   OTHER  PAPERS 


State  1  have  mentioned,  and  are  more  in  specu- 
lation and  reasoning  than  in  living  experience. 
But  I  entreat  thee  to  keep  to  thy  own  business, 
and  the  peace  of  thy  own  mind ;  that  is  more 
to  thee  than  any  thing  else  :  keeping  steadily  to 
meetings,  and  to  the  practices  and  conduct  of 
faithful  Friends.    This  will,  I  believe,  tend  to 
keep  thee  in  favor  both  with  God  and  man  ;  and 
I  believe  that  thou  hardly  needest  fear  doing 
well  also  in  outward  things.    And  as  thou  art 
favored,  more  and  more,  to  know  what  inward 
peace  and  quiet  are,  thou  wilt  be  more  afraid  of 
those  who  know  not  what  the  truth  is  by  expe- 
rience.   The  way  of  Truth,  I  believe,  increas- 
es in  brightness  as  we  walk  on  faithfully  in  it, 
in  humble  submission  to  its  discoveries.  Here 
the  creature  is  abased  and  kept  in  a  teachable 
state,  and  those  discoveries  made,  and  that  es- 
tabhshment  known,  which  are  no  otherwise  to 
be  come  at.    Therefore  mind,  I  beseech  thee, 
the  discoveries  of  Tmth ;  and  if,  through  un- 
watchfulness  or  infirmity,  or  natural  propensity , 
thou  at  any  time  slippest  aside,  be  diligent,  by 
repentance  and  submission  to  the  rod,  to  get 
thy  peace  restored.    Oh!  the  danger  of  letting 
commissions  and  omissions  gather  one  upon  an- 
other, for  want  of  coming  under  the  washing, 
purifying  dispensation  of  the  Spirit  of  Truth. — 
'How  many  have  wofully  missed  it  herein,  and 


ADDRESSED   TO  THE   YOUNG.  67 


incurred  a  hardened  state  of  mind,  unsuscepti- 
ble of  the  tendering  impressions  of  good.  But 
I  desire  thy  preservation,  and  that  thou  mayst 
know  an  estabhshment  in  the  blessed,  unchange- 
able Truth.       In  tme  love, 

Thy  sincere  friend, 

W.  G. 


Extract  of  a  Letter  to  two  young  Men. 

1815. — 6  mo.  9.  I  think  my  sincere  desire 
is,  that  the  Father  of  mercies  may  take  you  and 
preserve  you  under  his  gracious  care ;  and  so 
renew,  from  time  to  time,  his  enlightening  influ- 
ence on  your  minds,  as  to  enable  you  clearly  to 
perceive  the  transcendant  excellency  that  there 
is  in  the  tmth ;  and  to  engage  you  to  prefer  it, 
and  your  advancement  in  it,  to  every  other 
thing.  It  is  cause  of  real  satisfaction  to  me, 
that  you  are  capable  of  business,  and  inclined 
to  be  industrious  and  persevering.  I  think  your 
attention  to  these  lawful  and  commendable  pur- 
suits, under  due  regulations  and  restrictions,  may 
not  only  prevent  your  active  minds  from  being 
drawn  out  after  things  less  innocent,  but  furnish 
you  with  ability  to  be  useful  to  others.  Never- 
theless, I  wish  to  remind  and  warn  you,  that 


68  EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER,  &C. 

temptations  will  not  be  wanting :  the  enemies 
of  your  own  house,  the  propensities  of  our  na- 
ture, will  closely  beset  you  in  one  shape  or  oth- 
er, in  one  direction  or  other,  adapting  the  bait 
to  the  circumstances,  disposition,  turn,  and  in- 
clination. 

Under  this  persuasion,  how  solicitous  I  am 
that  you  may  be  circumspect,  and  maintain  a 
daily  watch  ;  so  that  preservation  may  be  expe- 
rienced on  every  hand.  Often  bear  in  mind, 
I  tenderly  entreat  you,  that  our  great  and  boun- 
tiful Creator's  view,  in  the  formation  of  his  crea- 
ture man,  was  to  make  him  completely  happy, 
by  the  enjoyment  of  Hjmself,  his  own  presence, 
his  own  love,  light,  and  peace  :  so  that  our 
greatest  wisdom  is  to  aim  continually  at  this 
point,  which  is  the  great  end  of  our  being.  If 
we  are  thus  preserved,  we  shall  endeavor  to 
bear  the  trials,  afflictions,  and  disappointments 
of  this  life,  in  such  a  manner  as  may  bring  us, 
day  by  day,  nearer,  and  nearer,  and  nearer  to 
God,  who  is  the  perpetual  fountain  of  happiness 
and  of  consolation.  In  like  manner,  we  shall 
endeavor  to  enjoy  prosperity  and  the  comforts 
of  this  life,  and  the  many  blessings  which  sur- 
round us,  in  such  a  sweet,  thankful,  humble 
frame  of  spirit,  as  will  be  well  pleasing  in  the 
divine  sight.  We  may  be  benefited,  I  believe, 
even  by  prosperity  as  well  as  by  adversity,  if 


EXTRACT   OF  A  LETTER,  &:C. 


69 


the  mind  be  kept  in  a  state  suited  to  our  depen- 
dent condition ;  for  dependent  indeed  we  are, 
every  moment  of  our  days.  Thus  we  may  be 
brought  on  our  journey,  whether  longer  or 
shorter  ;  so  as  that,  whenever  the  end  comes, 
either  in  middle  or  more  advanced  age,  we  may 
enter,  through  the  di^dne  mercy,  into  the  frui- 
tion of  that  state,  where  there  is  neither  want, 
sickness,  nor  pain  ;  and  where  all  tears  are  for- 
ever wiped  away. 

We  cannot  too  often  look  at  things  after  this 
manner  :  we  ought  to  do  it  daily,  or  oftener  than 
the  day.  It  does  not  unfit  us  for  the  concerns 
of  time  ;  but  it  leads  us  to  give  the  preference 
where  it  is  so  justly  due,  and  where  our  inter- 
est requires  us.  It  leads  us  to  desire,  in  sincer- 
ity of  heart,  that  dinne  goodness  will  be  near 
us,  and  help  us  in  all  states  and  condhions,  and 
under  all  our  temptations  and  trials  ;  so  that  we 
may  not  lose  our  hold  of  good,  but  may  contin- 
ually advance,  as  our  days  spend  and  pass  away, 
towards  that  which  is  the  end  and  perfection  of 
our  being. 


y2 


CHAPTER  V. 


EXTRACTS  OF    LETTERS  WRITTEN  FROM 
THE  YEAR  1800  TO  1811 ;  WITH  SOME 
OTHER  PAPERS. 

1800. — 5th  mo,  18.  We  are  again  come  up 
to  the  yearly  meeting ;  not,  I  trust,  that  we 
think,  or  thought  before  we  set  out,  ourselves  • 
of  much  consequence  here;  but  wish  to  think  "* 
it  a  favor  that  we  are  once  more  permitted  to 
mingle  with  Friends  in  their  annual  solemnity. 
Yet  I  remember  that  after  all,  we  must,  after 
partaking  of  the  strength  derived  from  the  ex- 
ercise and  concern  of  the  lovers  of  the  cause, 
retire  into  our  own  littleness;  live,ifwe  do  live,  up- 
on our  own  little  morsel ;  and  depend  for  daily 
help  and  daily  supplies,  as  well  as  for  final  succor 
and  acceptance,  upon  the  mercy  and  favor  of  Him 
who  knows  all  our  infirmities ;  and  who  knows 
how  far  some  of  us  are  from  that  heavenly,  re- 
deemed state,  which  I  believe  many  of  us 
would  gladly  arrive  at,  however  far  we  may  yet 
be  from  a  due  willingness  to  submit  to  the  teiTns. 
Well,  my  beloved  friend,  may  the  sweetness  of 
divine  consolation  be  thy  experience,  to  enliven 
iby  declining  years,  support  thee  amidst  the 


EXTKACTs    OF  LETTERS. 


71 


varied  conflicts  allotted,  and  sweeten  the  bitter 
cups  which  the  diversified  stage  admits  of  to 
the  travelers  who  ai'e  passing  over  it. 

I  remember  at  this  time,  a  nice  young  man. 
Many  dangers  attend  such  as  he  is  ;  a  lively, 
pleasant  activity  for  business ;  and  no  doubt 
many  ready  to  associate  with  him.  IMay  he 
wisely  remember  how  easy  it  is  for  the  mind  to 
be  drawn  into  things,  the  enjoyment  whereof  is 
attended  with  no  tme  sweetness,  and  which 
produce  flatness  and  barrenness,  if  not  bitter- 
ness in  the  end  of  them.  IMay  he  remember, 
none  are  safe  companions  who  have  not  the 
tender  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes ;  who  do 
not  endeavor  to  yield  their  minds  to  that  cross 
which  brings  into  exercise  and  conflict,  and  for- 
bids a  rest  in  sensual  gratifications,  which  are 
vanity,  and  afford  no  substantial  and  enduring 
comfort. 

I  have  thought  that  many  would  like  to  feel 
the  comforts  of  religion,  but  miss  it  from  expec- 
ting to  find  some  great  thing  to  begin  ^vith  ; 
whereas,  perhaps  the  way  appointed  for  most, 
is  to  begin  with  something  veYy  little ;  and  it 
would  be  well;  when  our  minds  are  exercised 
and  grieved  that  we  feel  little  or  no  capacity  to- 
wards good,  to  consider  whether  there  is  not 
something  manifested  that  we  are  not  yield- 
ing to.    Perhaps  this  is  the  very  thing  which  is 


72 


EXTRACTS  OF  LETTERS. 


to  be  the  door  of  entrance  into  the  path  of  life, 
and  of  increasing  consolation,  and  experience  of 
good. 

1802. — 8  mo,  6.  One  thing  I  seem  inclin- 
ed to  mention  for  thy  encouragement;  and  that 
is,  to  request,  affectionately,  that  thou  wilt  not 
let  discouragements  take  place,  as  to  the  attend- 
ance of  meetings  for  discipline  at  a  distance,  now 
that  your  borders  as  a  quarterly  meeting  are  en- 
larged, and  the  remoteness  may  be  an  addit- 
ional bar  to  thy  going.  I  believe  thy  company 
will  be  strengthening  and  encouraging  to  the' 
rightly-concerned  present,  and  their  company 
reviving  and  consoling  to  thee.  Let  not  thy 
deafness  discourage  thee  :  thy  being,  in  rneas- 
ure,  gathered  into  thy  own  exercise,  will,  1  be- 
lieve, help  forward  the  cause.  Even  the  coun- 
tenance of  an  Israelite,  I  believe,  strengthens  , 
many  a  drooping  mind ;  and  there  are  opportu- 
nities, now  and  then,  though  it  may  not  be  our 
lot  to  be  very  active,  of  manifesting  on  whose 
side  we  are.  So  that  I  am  inclined,  from 
some  persuasion  of  its  usefulness  and  fitness,  to 
encourage  those  who,  with  thyself,  sincerely 
love  the  cause  of  Truth,  to  keep  close  to  it 
publicly,  even  in  dedining  days,  as  to  age. 
Indeed,  I  have  been  of  the  mind  for  some  time, 
that  if  things  go  on  well,  the  more  active  part 
in  our  meetings  for  discipline  will  not  always  fall 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS: 


73 


on  those  far  advanced  in  years ;  but  they  will 
probably  often  sit  by,  and,  like  careful  fathers 
and  mothers,  encourage  by  their  presence  and 
by  their  weighty  spirits,  the  younger  and  mid- 
dle-aged to  come  up  in  and  maintain  their  res- 
pective ranks ;  and  now  and  then,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  experience,  put  in  a  few  words,  well- 
seasoned  and  well-timed,  to  the  increasing  of 
the  weight  and  solemnity.  O  1  the  use  of  the 
company  of  fathers  and  mothers,  my  beloved 
friend,  in  our  Society.  O  !  the  pleasantness 
of  seeing  the  hoary  head  in  our  assemblies,  hav- 
mg  kept  the  faith,  having  loved  the  Truth,  and 
believed  in  it  to  the  end. 

1803. — 6  mo.  3.  It  was  not  pleasant  to  me 
that  I  did  not  either  see  or  write  to  thee  before 
I  left  London,  which  was  not  until  the  28th. 
I  have  repeatedly  had  in  view  the  expectation 
I  gave  thee  of  a  little  explanation  of  my  views 
concerning  the  investigation  of  certain  points 
which  have  often  been  considered  as  mysteri- 
ous, and  which  I  should  gladly  express  in  such 
a  manner  as  would  tend  to  thy  satisfaction. 

I  am  inclined  to  beheve  that  it  is  not  the  de- 
sign of  Unerring  Wisdom,  that  the  mind  should 
be  satisfied  about  these  things,  hy  the  exertions 
of  its  own  powers ;  but  He  has  wisely  reserved 
to  himself  the  communication  of  this  satisfac- 
tion,  dispensing  it  to  the  minds  of  his  creatures, 


74  EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 

when,  how,  and  in  what  degree  he  sees  meetj 
from  time  to  time.  It  seems  that  a  real  progress 
in  divine  knowledge  is  very  differently  to  be  at- 
tained and  experienced,  from  what  may  gener- 
ally be  expected  and  desired  by  mankind.  If 
any  man  will  do  his  will,  he  shall  know  of  the 
doctrine. — -See  John  vii.  17. 

It  is  very  gratifying  to  the  natural  mind,  to 
have  a  very  full  and  comprehensive  view  of  the 
subject  of  religion,  at  the  beginning  of  the  work; 
but  the  religion  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ  appears  to  be  very  differently  intended 
to  be  opened  to  the  mind;  beginning,  frequently, 
with  a  little  light  or  manifestation  of  the  divine 
will,  as  to  some  point  or  part  of  duty.  And  as 
obedience  is  yielded  to  this  small  manifestation, 
let  it  be  respecting  whatsoever  it  may,  greater 
and  greater  degrees  of  light  and  of  strength  are 
afforded,  to  follow  on  to  know  more  and  more 
of  the  divine  will,  and  of  divine  things.  This 
is  very  humbling  to  the  natural  mind,  which 
would  willingly  be  getting  on  faster :  but  the 
real,  divine  manifestations  of  Light  and  of  Life 
must  be  humbly  waited  for,  and  the  mind  clothed 
with  reverence  and  fear,  lest  it  get  on  in  its  own 
wisdom,  and  mix  something  of  its  own  with  the 
communications  of  divine  Light  and  Life  ;  for 
it  is  well  to  remember,  that  "  in  Christ,  (the 
Word)  was  Light,  and  that  Light  was  the  Life , 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS.  75 

of  men.''  Now  as  the  mind  is  really  favored 
to  believe  that  all  good  comes  from  God  ;  and 
that  its  own  conceivings  and  searchings,  in  its 
own  wisdom  and  strength,  will  end  in  disappoint- 
ment, and  short  of  that  clearness  and  evidence 
whiich  truly  satisfies,  it  is  brought  into  a  humble, 
waiting  state ;  and  in  this  reduced,  dependent, 
humble  state,  as  any  thing  is  made  known  fi-om 
the  source  of  all  true  good,  I  believe  a  sweet, 
substantial,  satisfj'ing  something  will  attend  it, 
w^hich  all  the  exertions  of  the  mind,  in  its  own 
wisdom  and  activity,  cannot  afford.  And  as  this 
comes  to  be  really  known  and  believed,  a  fear 
possesses  the  mind  of  entering  into  abstract 
speculation  concerning  divine  things  ;  preferring 
rather  to  wait,  in  humility  and  reverence,  upon 
God ;  not  doubting  but  He  will  be  pleased,  if 
we  yield  obedience,  day  by  day,  to  the  mani- 
festations of  his  light  in  our  minds,  to  make  to 
us  such  discoveries  as  He  judges  best  and  most 
suitable  for  us. 

Now,  as  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  read  in  this 
disposition  of  mind,  depending  on  God,  through 
the  spirit  of  Christ  in  the  soul,  for  the  opening 
of  them  to  our  understandings,  we  may,  I  be- 
lieve, often  be  sweetly  refi:eshed,  comforted,  and 
edified,  even  in  reading  a  very  few  verses.  And 
if  we  meet  with  any  thing  which  is  not  quite 
clear  to  us,  we  may  rather  feel  disposed  to  leave 


76 


EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 


it,  than  to  reason,  search,  and  contrive  concern- 
ing it.  Thus  thou  wilt  perceive  that  I  beUeve 
the  religion  of  Christ  to  be  a  religion  of  faith  in 
Him ;  and  that,  as  in  Him  are  hid  all  the 
treasures  of  v^isdom  and  knowledge,  so,  as  we 
are  brought  into  a  state  of  true  waiting  and  de- 
pendence upon  Him,  and  upon  the  manifesta- 
tions of  his  spirit  on  the  soul,  we  are  in  the  way 
to  be  rightly  introduced,  from  time  to  time,  into 
such  degrees  of  knowledge  in  divine  things,  as  is 
truly  best  for  us,  and  best  adapted  to  the  state 
of  our  minds  ;  and  that  it  is  not  consistent  with 
divine  v/isdom  to  communicate  the  treasures  of 
heavenly  mysteries,  but  as  the  mind  becomes, 
through  true  obedience,  refined  and  prepared 
for  the  reception  of  them. 

1804. — 7  mo.  We  find,  as  you  do,  the 
present  scene  and  state  of  things  greatly 
chequered.  Many  favors  and  many  trials  are  our 
lot ;  and  I  am  ready,  at  times,  to  wish  that  I 
may  not  expect  to  find  it  otherwise,  having  little 
room  for  it.  If  I  may  judge  from  the  fifty  years 
which  are  passed  over  my  head,  what  appears 
to  be  wanting  is  a  more  settled  and  firm  abiding, 
where  neither  the  storms  and  tempests,  nor  the 
sunshine  of  time  and  temporal  matters  can  fully 
shake  or  move.  For  this  experience  I  think  I 
do  long,  and  in  measure,  I  think,  pray  that  this 


EXTRACTS   OF   LETTERS.  H 

longing  may  never,  never  be  lost,  until  a  perfect, 
abiding  establishment  be,  through  heavenly 
goodness,  experienced.  If  the  tossings  and  ex- 
ercises which  are  met  with,  both  by  you  and  us, 
may  but  happily  contribute  to  this  establish- 
ment, what  a  favor  and  mercy  will  it  be. 

Is  not  the  great  thing  which  is  wanting  in  our 
religious  Society,  an  individual  travail,  a  close 
attention  to  individual  duty,  whereby  we  should 
more  experience  a  fitness  and  qualifications  for 
collective  service,  as  well  as  more  availingly 
contribute  to  the  advancement  and  spreading  of 
Truth  ?  But  whilst  I  lament  my  own  languor, 
I  wish  not,  my  dear  friend,  to  discourage  thee ; 
but  rather  that  we  may  unitedly  be  animated  to 
lay  hold  of  every  offer  of  best  help  ;  and  perse- 
vere, in  increased  and  increasing  hope  and  con- 
fidence, to  the  end. 

1806. — 3  mo.  We  have  of  late  time  had  to 
wade  along  under  many  exercises  and  trials,  not 
fully  known  to  any  but  ourselves  ;  yet  I  think 
we  have  cause  humbly  to  acknowledge  that  we 
have  been  permitted  to  hold  up  our  heads,  and 
not  altogether  to  sink  under  discouragement. — 
If  the  varied  conflicts  which  we  have,fi:om  time 
to  time,  to  endure  in  our  different  allotments, 
do  but  happily  tend  to  increase  our  acquaintance 
with  the  Supreme  Good,  and  to  strengthen  our 

G 


78 


EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 


confidence  in  the  divine  superintencring  care  and 
protection,  it  will  be  well ;  and  we  may  have  to 
acknowledge  that  it  is  good  for  us  that  we  have 
been  afflicted.  I  wish  to  guard  against  un- 
profitable bewailing ;  and  rather  press  on,  in  a 
grateful  remembrance  that  w^e  have  many  favors 
and  blessings  intermixed  with  the  difficulties  of 
the  day. 

It  is,  indeed,  a  nice  thing,  and  requiring  a 
portion  of  best  wisdom,  to  know  how  to  move 
along  in  temporal  concerns.  To  be  suitably 
alive  to  the  useful  discharge  of  our  duty  as  to 
temporal  matters,  and  yet  to  have  the  mind  so 
detached  from  them  as  to  have  the  one  thing 
needful  perpetually  before  us,  is  a  most  desira- 
ble attainment.  Uncertainty  is  so  stamped  on 
all  visible  enjoyments,  that  we  had  need,  indeed, 
to  be  solicitous  to  have  our  minds  established  on 
something  beyond  them  all. 

1806. — 11  mo.  27.  I  consider  it  particularly 
valuable  to  young  men,  to  be  placed,  not  only 
where  they  may  be  learning  a  pleasant  and  re- 
spectable business,  which,  under  Providence, 
may  be  the  means  of  procuring  them  a  com- 
fortable maintenance  and  provision  in  the  world; 
but  where  their  amusements  and  engagements, 
in  the  hours  of  relaxation  from  business,  will  be 
likely  to  be  of  the  innocent  and  rational,  as  well 


-EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


19 


as  religiously-consistent  kind.  To  fill  up  the 
hours  of  leisure  rightly  is  a  nice  thing  ;  and  I 
hope  thou  wilt  be  especially  careful  of  it,  par- 
ticularly in  thy  reading.  I  wish  thee  to  read 
what  thy  master  and  mistress  approve  :  such 
things  as  may  be  promotive  of  thy  preservation 
in  religious  tenderness  ;  and,  when  not  of  a  re- 
ligious nature,  such  things  as  will  improve  thy 
understanding,  and  enrich  thy  mind  with  profita- 
ble knowledge. 

It  is  not  unpleasant  that  the  ground  which  was 
once  my  grandfather's,  father's  and  afi:erv>'ards 
mine,  is  become  the  site  of  a  meeting-house  for 
Friends  of  Brighton  :  a  place  where  it  was, 
about  fifty  years  ago,  not  very  unlikely,  looking 
outwardly,  that  there  would  be  hardly  any 
Friends  to  hold  a  meetins:.  I  caii  remember, 
when  I  was  a  boy,  sitting  on  a  First-day,  by  the 
widow  Wilkins'  fireside,  to  hold  our  meeting : 
perhaps  about  five  or  six  of  us  in  number. — 
There  is  great  cause  for  encouragement  to 
Friends,  both  youth  and  elder,  to  be  faithful  to 
kno^Ti  duty  ;  then,  I  beheve,  we  shall  indeed 
be  blessed  with  increase  both  in  numbers, 
strength,  and  dignity,  with  the  dew  of  heaven 
and  the  fatness  of  the  earth.  Very  early  in  life 
we  may  do  something  for  this  great  and  noblest 
of  all  causes,  the  promotion  of  TRith  upon  the 
earth.  Abstaining  from  every  appearance  of 
evil,  will  give  to  a  very  youth  a  certain  dignity 


86 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


ol^haracter;  and  will  be  accompanied  with 
humility,  which,  indeed,  is  a  most  excellent 
adorning,  and  witliout  which  other  qualifications 
and  graces  lose  much  of  their  beauty. 

1810. — 1  mo.  21,    Thus  it  is :  we 

pass  away  one  after  another,  and  the  place  which 
has  known  us  shall  know  us  no  more.  I  long 
that  those  in  the  vigor  of  life,  may  increasingly 
bend  to  every  discovery  and  manifestation  of 
duty,  which  is  the  way  to  increase  in  religious 
strength.  I  think  I  never  saw,  more  than  lately, 
the  usefulness  and  necessity  of  dihgence  to  ac- 
quaint ourselves  with  that  divine  good,  which 
alone  can  console  and  sustain  the  soul  in  the 
hour  of  trial  and  extremity;  and  I  feel,  whilst  I 
write,  desires  that  thou  mayst,  for  one,  prize  the 
present  day.  Love  retirement,  and  frequent, 
solemn  introversion  of  mind  ;  that  so  thou  mayst 
mcreasingly  see  thy  duty  and  service  in  religious 
society,  and  be  careful  to  do  it  with  Christian 
magnanimity  and  faithfulness,  showing,  on  all 
occasions,  on  whose  side  thou  art,  that  thou 
mayst  be  an  example  and  encouragement  to 
others  to  do  likewise.  Time  spends  apace,  and 
I  am  desirous  that  thou  mayst  be  a  truly  re- 
ligious character  in  your  large  meeting.  O  !  , 
the  beauty  of  an  entire  consistency.  How  do^^ 
the  example  of-such  operate,  within  the  sphere 
in  which  they  move!    How  does  it  avail  to 


EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 


81 


their  own  indi\'idual  good,  the  help  of  others, 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  cause  of  Truth  ! 

1810. — 6  mo.  24.  I  understand  thou  hast  a 
fresh  companion,  which,  I  apprehend,  will  be 
agreeable  to  thee ;  and  I  wish  you  may  be 
strengthened  to  encourage  one  another  in  faith- 
fulness to  the  requirings  of  Truth,  and  not  the 
contrary  ;  which  is  sometimes  unhappily  the 
case  with  young  men  taking  countenance  and 
encouragement  from  one  another,  in  smaller  or 
greater  de\iations  from  the  simplicity  of  our 
noble  profession.  A  sight  and  sense  whereof, 
I  believe,  thou  hast  been  favored  with ;  and 
keeping  faithful  to  what  thou  seest,  is  the  way 
to  have  the  understanding  enlarged,  and  to  see 
more  into  the  law  of  liberty — precious  liberty, 
wherein  the  mind  is  raised,  in  measure,  above 
the  bondage  of  this  perishing,  unstable  world. — 
I  desire  thy  preservation  in  innocence,  and  under 
the  teaching  of  the  best  Preceptor  ;  and  though 
it  may,  at  times,  be  to  our  humihation,  and  we 
may  be  led  along  in  a  path  of  self-denial,  yet, 
remember,  none  ever  repent  ha\ing  timely  and 
early  submitted  to  his  discipline ;  but  many, 
many  have  to  lament  that  they  delayed  the  sub- 
mission of  their  wills  too  long,  and  thereby  in- 
creased their  own  difficulties. 


/ 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


1810. — 7  mo.  25.  Those  manifestations  in- 
tended for  real,  solid,  and  permanent  good,  are 
oftentimes  in  the  cross  to  our  own  nature ;  but, 
as  yielded  to  and  obeyed,  they  tend  to  change 
our  nature,  even  to  introduce  that  nature  which 
does  the  will  of  our  Heavenly  Father  with  de- 
light. And  I  believe  such  are  always  blessed, 
and  partake  of  substantial  good,  though  it  may 
fee  often  mixed  with  trial,  such  being  the  terms 
of  this  life  :  "  In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribu- 
lation." But  remember  the  foregoing  words : 
"  these  words  I  have  spoken  unto  you,  that  in 
Me  ye  might  have  peace." 

1810.— -10  mo.  2.  I  noticed  thy  remarks  on 
the  difficulty  of  keeping  the  mind  under  the  di- 
vine influence.  I  believe  this  is  not  in  our 
power,  or  by  any  means  at  our  command ;  but 
yet  I  think  much  depends  on  watchfulness,  and 
religious,  tender  care  of  our  movements.  As 
we  keep  humble  and  watchful,  I  believe  the 
influences  of  good  are  more  perceived  arid 
longer  retained :  the  mind  becomes  more  and 
more  in  love  with  them  and  desirous  of  them, 
and  more  afraid  of  things  which  indispose  it  to 
wait  for  them  ;  and  so  it  is  that  our  nature  be- 
comes chianged,  and  we,  prepared  to  run  the 
ways  of  the  Lord's  requirings ;  and  our  minds 
to  be  content  with  what  is  according  to  his  will. 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


83 


So,  my  dear  ,  do  not  look  too  far  before 

thee,  nor  suffer  the  suggestions  of  discourage- 
ment to  prevail  unprofitably ;  but  remember, 
"  Greater  is  He  that  is  in  thee,  than  he  that  is 
in  the  world."  I  desire  thy  encouragement  to 
look  to  the  Lord,  and  to  believe  that  He  will 
furnish  the  willing  and  obedient  mind  with  ability 
to  take  one  step  after  another  in  the  way  which 
is  well-pleasing  to  Him,  until  a  capacity  is 
known  to  walk  with  a  degree  of  blessed  firm- 
ness and  acceptance  ;  although  there  is  no  state 
to  be  expected  here  beyond  a  state  of  humble 
watchfulness.  May  it  be  the  happy  experience 
of  us  all. 

1811. — 8  mo.  7.  I  hope,  if  permitted  to 
accomplish  your  union,  that  you  will  be  a  com- 
fort to  each  other,  and  that  your  principal  care 
will  be  to  walk  in  humility,  reverence,  and  fear ; 
knowing,  as  we  cannot  but  know,  if  we  be  wise, 
that  uncertainty  marks  the  path  of  man,  and 
that  our  most  precious  and  endearing  enjoy- 
ments in  the  outward,  are  only  rightly  held  and 
possessed,  as  they  are  held  with  humble 
gratitude. 

It  would  be  very  pleasant  to  know  — 

well  settled  :  not  that  I  consider  that  he  may 
be  losing  time,  unless  it  be  in  delaying  to  take  up 
the  cross,  and  follow,  in  humility  and  resignation 


84 


EXTRACTS  OF  LETTERS. 


of  heart,  the  Saviour  of  men.  I  am  ready  to 
think,  that  the  hkeliest  way  for  many  young 
men  to  get  forward,  as  to  an  estabHshment  in  the 
world,  is  to  seek  earnestly  and  carefully  after 
the  pearl  of  greatest  price,  trusting  in  the  divine 
promise  :  Seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
his  righteousness,  and  all  these  things  shall  be 
added  unto  you."  I  rather  think  that  many 
who  may  be  steady,  respectable  characters7  yet 
not  submitting  to  all  the  terms  needful  for  those 
who  desire,  above  all  things,  to  secure  to  them- 
selves the  divine  blessing,  prevent  that  sub- 
stantial advancement,  even  in  temporal  things, 
which  they  would  more  easily  be  favored  with, 
if  they  were  more  weighty  in  spirit,  and  more 
fit  to  be  placed  in  respectable  stations  at  the  head 
of  families,  having  more  or  fewer  young  men 

under  them.    Could  come  enough  to 

put  his  trust  rightly  in  Him,  to  whom  belongs 
the  earth  and  the  fulness  thereof,  and  wiose  are 
the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills,  I  think  some- 
thing would  open ;  and  it  would  be  a  comfort 
to  see  him,  thus  trusting  and  thus  depending, 
settled  for  himself. 

1811. — -10  mo.  As  time  passes  over,  we 
.  find  fresh  and  fresh  exercises  brought  over  our 
minds  ;  and  I  believe  it  is  hardly  safe  to  expect 
it  will  be  otherwise,  whilst  we  are  conversant 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


85 


with  the  Yicissitudes  of  tirne.  The  infirmities 
of  our  nature  are  a  great  trial ;  and  we  are  very 
Hable  to  have  an  addition,  from  unexpectea 
circumstances,  over  which  we  do  not  appear  to 
have  any  control;  but,  as  in  the  outward,  clouds 
and  sunshine  succeed  each  other,  so  it  is  with 
us.  And  I  am  in  degree  comforted  at  this  time, 
in  some  little  capacity  to  salute  thee  as  a  beloved 
elder  sister,  in  the  faith  and  tribulations  of  our 
present  pilgrimage ;  in  the  tribulations  common 
to  mankind,  and  in  the  faith  vouchsafed  to  the 
humble,  exercised  Christian.  It  is  a  very 
precious  thing,  that,  although  at  times  and 
seasons  we  are  permitted  to  feel  ourselves  very 
destitute,  tried,  and  deserted ;  and  to  be,  as  it 
w^ere,  enveloped  in  our  own  nothingness  and  in- 
firmity ;  yet,  that  at  other  times,  a  sweet,  sensi- 
ble quiet  is  witnessed,  and  a  degree  of  confidence 
raised  in  the  sustaining  confidence  of  the  Lord 
our  God.  Here  there  is  no  desire  to  feel  our- 
selves strong  and  self-sufficient,  or  to  feel  the 
creature  exalted ;  but  it  is  felt  to  be  a  mercy, 
and  precious  favor,  that  we  can  lean  upon  the 
divine  arm  of  power,  and  trust  in  the  source  of 
true  consolation.  Here  the  waves  and  -  the 
billows  are  stilled;  and  we  are,  as  it  were,  ready 
to  say,  "  What  has  become  of  our  sorrows  ?" 

Well,  my  endeared  friend,  I  believe  thou  hast 
abundant  cause  to  trust  in  the  Lord,  and  put  thy 


86 


EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 


confidence  in  the  Holy  One  of  Israel ;  inasmuch 
as  He  has  been  thy  fear  and  thy  dread,  thy 
shield,  and  the  lifter  up  of  thy  head.  What 
have  we  else  to  trust  to;  however  encompassed, 
however  tossed  and  perplexed  ?  And  I  bdieve 
thou  knowest,  that  sometimes,  after  a  season  of 
rather  peculiar  trial,  comes  a  day  of  distinguish- 
ingly  refreshing  sweetness  and  calm.  "It  is  a 
great  consolation,  that  sweetness  and  peaceful 
enjoyment  are  not  inseparable  from  outward 
prosperity.  Indeed,  we  do  well  humbly  to  re- 
joice and  be  glad,  that  tribulation  producethlhe 
fmits  of  righteousness,  if  rightly  endured  :  but 
our  nature  shrinks  from  suffering. 


 Thy  case  and  situation  seem  to  re- 
quire the  kind  attention  of  thy  friends.  Thy 
frequent  neglect  of  meetmgs  for  worship  be- 
speaks thy  mind  to  be  not  in  a  tender,  religious 
frame  ;  but  unguarded,  and  too  indifferent  about 
thy  own  everlasting  good.  There  was  a  time, 
I  believe,  when  thy  mind  was  much  more  sen- 
sible of  the  benefit  of  attending  meetings  ;  and 
when  thou  wouldsfhave  been  afraid  to  be  ab- 
sent, except  something  particular  prevented  thy 
attendance.  Now  it  seems  a  light  matter :  sel- 
dom more  than  once  on  a  first-day,  sometimes 


EXTRACTS    OF   LETTERS.  b7 

not  once  ;  and  seldom  on  a  week-day.  It  is  not 
the  way  to  gain  strength  in  the  best  things,  to 
neglect  opportunities  of  waiting  on  the  Lord . — 
Remember  the  Scripture  saying :  They  that 
wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength." 
But  they  who  neglect  to  wait  upon  Him,  are  in 
danger  of  ha\ing  their  minds  dissipated,  and 
turned  from  good,  and  of  coming  to  have  a  plea- 
sure and  delight  in  those  things  which  once  they 
esteemed  not  worth  pursuing — things  which 
bring  no  sohd  peace  to  the  mind.  These  are 
accompanied  with  a  sting,  and  ^Yith  bitter  re- 
morse, unless  the  pure  witness  in  the  mind  be  so 
stifled  and  buried,  that  it  be  not  heard  nor  under- 
stood, but  blindness,  darkness,  and  insensibihty 
prevail.  This  is  a  dreadful  state ;  but  I  trust 
this  is  not  thy  situation.  Yet,  I  think,  if  thou 
dost  not  speedily  turn  about,  thou  art  in  danger 
of  losing  the  sense  thou  once  mayst  have  had 
of  the  sweetness  of  a  religious  life  and  conversa- 
tion. Light,  unguarded  company,  is  liable  to 
be  a  sad  snare  to  thee.  Evil  communications 
corrupt  good  manners ;  and  we  may  be  insen- 
sibly leavened,  if  not  upon  our  guard,  into  the 
nature  and  spirit  of  those  who  do  not  walk  in  in- 
nocency.  Thus,  one  thing  after  another,  of 
which  thy  judgment  may  have  been  convinced, 
may  be  called  in  question ;  plainness  and  sin- 
cerity of  speech,  plainness  of  apparel,  simplicity 


88 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


and  innocency  of  manners,  may  all  be  departed 
from ;  and  thy  poor  mind  be  exposed  to  many, 
many  dangers  and  temptations,  from  which  thou 
mightest  have  been  preserved,  if  thou  hadst 
carefully  maintained  the  watch  ; — if  thou  hadst 
fled  from  every  appearance  of  evil,  and  been 
afraid  of  having  the  tenderness  and  sensibility  of 
thy  mind  hurt,  by  touching  and  partaking  of 
things  of  which  thou  once  sawest  the  evil  and 
inconsistency. 

Do  not  be  deceived,  or  believe  any  one  to  be 
thy  true  friend  who  would  rejoice  to  see  thee 
dishonor  thy° profession,  or  set  light  by  any  ten- 
der, religious  scruple.  It  is  a  great  favor  and 
blessing  to  have  a  tender  mind,  fearful  of  doing 
any  thing  to  offend  our  Maker ;  and  those  who 
know  not  the  value  of  this  tenderness  of  mind, 
and  would  willingly  rob  us  of  it,  are  to  be  guard- 
ed against  as  dangerous  companions. 

I  do  not  mention  this  because  I  believe  thou 
hast  not  once  known  it  to  be  true ;  but  I  be- 
lieve thou  hast  opened  an  ear  to  that  which,  if 
followed,  w^ill  lead  thee  into  confusion,  if  not  to 
ruin  ;  confusion  as  to  the  state  of  thy  mind,  and 
as  to  thy  profession  as  a  Friend ;  and,  perhaps, 
confusion  as  to  thy  outward  concerns. 

I  see  nothing  but  that  the  situation  at  —  

might  afford  thee  a  competent  livelihood,  if 
properly  minded ;  but  it  will  require  care.  It 


EXTRACTS   OF  LT.TTKR? 


89 


\vi\\;  I  believe,  require  thee  to  be  frugal  and 
careful  in  thy  expenses,  careflil  of  th}-  time,  reg- 
ular and  punctual  in  doing  thy  business,  and 
steady  in  attention  to  it.  If  thou  art  too  often 
from  home,  thou  mayst  lose  more  in  tv.'o  or 
three  hours  than  will  be  got  ao;ain  in  a  week. — 
By  all  means,  be  consistent.  Do  not  seem  one 
thing,  and  be  another.  Be  an  industrious  trades- 
man, and  mind  thy  business.  Let  hardly  any 
thing  call  thee  from  it,  except  thy  religious  du- 
t}^ ;  and  take  care  to  give  a  suitable  preference 
to  this  duty,  above  every  thing.  This  will  make 
thee  careful  how  thou  conductest  thyself  in  thy 
business,  with  punctuality,  honesty,  integrit}^, 
and  humility.  Thou  wilt  fear  to  dishonor  thy 
profession  in  thy  words  or  in  thy  ways,  and  this 
is  the  way  for  thy  neighbors  to  have  a  confi- 
dence in  thee  ;  for  though  some  may  scoff  at, 
and  deride  the  way  of  Truth  and  of  simpHcity, 
yet  all  like  to  have  to  do  with  those  whom  they 
can  depend  upon,  and  who  they  really  behave 
are  preserved  by  a  principle  of  integrity,  from 
doing  them  an  injury,  even  if  they  had  it  in  their 
power. 

Do  not  despise  little  things,  as  some  may  call 
them ;  remembering,  he  that  despiseth  the 
day  of  small  things,  shall  fall  by  Uttle  and  little." 
And  by  Httle  and  little  thou  mayst  get  so  far 
from  the  right  way,  as  never  more  to  return  to 

H 


90 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


it ;  thou  may  St  depart  from  the  way  of  inno- 
cence, the  way  of  plainness,  the  way  of  humiK 
ity,  the  way  of  safety,  so  far  as  to  have,  in  the 
end,  to  he  down  in  sorrow,  and  to  wish  that  thou 
hadst  never  known  better  things,  rather  than, 
having  known  them,  to  depart  fi'om  them,  and 
trample  upon  them. 

I  believe  thy  situation  very  dangerous,  and 
requiring  particular  watchfulness  and  resolution  : 
because  thou  hast,  I  believe,  opened  thy  heart 
to  some  things  of  an  evil  tendency ;  and  that 
will,  if  not  speedily  and  firmly  stood  against, 
tend  to  the  blinding  and  darkening  of  thy  un- 
derstanding. 

I  think  I  need  not  make  any  apology  for  this 
friendly  freedom  ;  as  I  did  not  see  that  I  could 
be  clear  in  my  duty  to  thee,  without  submitting 
a  few  hints  to  thy  very  serious  perusal. 
With  desires  for  thy  real  good, 

Thy  respectful  friend, 

W.  G. 


Religion  is  a  very  serious  thing,  and  by  a 
great  man  is,  I  think,  thus  defined  :  "  Religion 
is  the  fear  of  God,  and  its  demonstration  good 
works  ;  and  Faith  is  the  root  of  both."  Relig- 
ion, therefore,  taken  in  this  sense,  which  I  think 


EXTRACTS   OF   LETTERS.  91 


is  the  true  sense,  is  one  thing  ;  profession  is  an- 
other. A  man  may,  at  his  own  option,  and 
against  conviction,  change  his  profession ;  but 
his  religion  he  cannot  so  easily  change.  If  a 
man  is  religious,  he  fears  God  his  Creator  ;  fears 
to  oiFend  him  in  thought,  word,  or  deed,  and 
considers  himself  bound  to  walk  conformably  to 
this  fear.  Now,  according  to  the  degree  of  true 
light  upon  the  understanding,  is  a  man's  religion. 
He  cannot,  at  his  option,  change  the  convictions 
of  this  light ;  though  he  may  act  in  opposition 
to  them,  and  thereby  incur  condemnation.  If 
a  man  does  not  fear  God,  I  conclude  he  has  no 
religion  ;  if  he  does  fear  God,  and  walks  answer- 
ably  thereto,  he  endeavors  to  act  according  to 
the  best  evidence  afforded  to  his  understanding, 
as  to  what  is,  and  what  is  not,  agreeable  to  the 
will  of  his  Creator  concerning  him.  Thus,  if  I 
am  not  mistaken,  a  man  cannot,  at  his  own  op- 
tion, change  his  rehgion :  although,  as  he  can 
act  in  opposition  to  what  is  really  the  religion  of 
his  judgment,  he  can,  if  he  be  not  conscientious, 
change  his  profession. 

We  believe,  as  a  religious  Society,  that  the 
duty  of  a  religious  man  is  to  endeavor  to  know 
his  duty  as  a  Christian,  both  as  to  matter  and 
mode,  and  then  carefully  and  conscientiously  to 
do  it.  Forms  of  profession  may  be  various  ;  but 
the  truly  pious,  of  all  denominations,  are,  1 


92  EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 

believe,  near  akin.  They  unite  in  one  grand . 
and  fundamental  respect ; — a  sincere  desire  that 
their  whole  lives  may  be  conformable  to  the  will 
of  their  Creator.  This  desire  embraces  not  on- 
ly spiritual,  but  temporal  things  ;  and,  with  re- 
gard to  their  religion,  not  only  the  life  and  sub-, 
stance,  but  also  the  form  and  profession  of  it. 


It  may  well  appear  strange  and  wonderful  to 
the  believing  mind,  that  the  sceptic  should  not 
discover  it  to  be  a  more  reasonable  conclusion, 
that  that  Divine  Being,  whom  we  contemplate 
as  self-existent,  omnipotent,  and  omnipresent,  of 
infinite  wisdom  and  goodness,  the  centre  and  es- 
sence of  all  created  existence,  in  whom,  there- 
fore, we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being, 
should  be  ever  mindful  of  those  rational  crea-. 
tures  whom  He  has  brought  into  existence; — 
that  it  should  not  strike  him,  as  consistent  with  a 
Being  of  infinite  purity  and  infinite  wisdom,  who 
is  ever  inseparably  near,  to  adapt  his  sensible 
influences  to  the  varied  circumstances  of  a  crea- 
ture so  fallible,  so  liable  to  error  as  man  ;  rather 
than  to  leave  him  to  himself,  to  find  his  way 
through  this  life,  and  to  conduct  himself  in  it,  by 
means  of  any  faculties  entrusted  absolutely  to 
him.    That  he  has  faculties,  and  a  capacity  en- 


EXTRACTS   Of  LETTERS. 


93 


trusted  to  him,  there  need  he  no  doubt ;  but  he 
has,  surely,  need  of  a  regulating,  superintend- 
ing, all-intelligent  preserver,  to  encourage,  to 
check,  to  reproY^e,  to  animate,  to  stimulate,  to 
restrain,  to  cherish,  to  console,  according  to  the 
various  circumstances  to  which  the  creature  may 
be  subject,  either  from  causes  over  which  it  has 
no  control,  or  from  the  wanderings  and  errors  in- 
cident to  humanity. 

That  there  is  such  an  influencing  principle  is 
the  supreme  joy  of  the  just,  who  live  by  faith  ; 
and  it  may  well  be  matter  of  admiration  to  them, 
that  the  sceptic  cannot  believe  that  it  exists,  or 
that  it  is  possible  it  should  exist.  Well,  now, 
suppose  the  sceptic  should  begin  to  believe  that 
such  a  thing  is  possible  ;  and  then  let  him  imag- 
ine, that  some  who  have  taken  a  different  path 
to  himself,  have  really  found,  by  experience* — 
by  experience  so  often  repeated  as  to  have  be- 
come undoubted  proof  to  them,  that  such  a 
precious,  such  a  powerful  principle  does  exist ; 
and  not  only  exist,  but  does  act  influentially  for 
their  good,  to  their  humble  and  thankful  admi- 
ration. After  this,  is  it  not  highly  reasonable 
for  him  to  conclude,  that,  in  admitting  the  doubts 
which  he  has  entertained,  he  has  been  unwise  ? 
that  he  has  shut  up  the  way  to  his  experiencing 
what  others  have  come  to  know  ? 

Suppose  again,  that  those  who  have  come  to 
h2 


94 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


this  experience,  (for,  above  all,  experience  is 
the  great  baffler  of  speculation,)  do  find  in  the 
Scriptures  abundant  testimonies  to  an  inward 
experience  of  this  same  living,  active,  and  influ- 
ential principle  in  the  hearts  of  others,  which 
they  believe  they  have  found  in  themselves,  is 
it  not  highly  reasonable  that  they  should  enter- 
tain an  extraordinary  value  for  these  writings  ; 
and  that,  finding  so  much  in  them  which  they 
cannot  but  highly  approve,  and  which  they  can- 
not doubt  the  truth  of,  they  are  very  fearful  of 
underrating  them,  and  thereby  depriving  them- 
selves of  the  help,  the  consolation,  and  advan- 
tao^e  to  be  derived  from  them  ?  These  writino^s 
give  their  believing  reader  to  understand,  that 
this  pure,  active,  influential,  regulating  principle, 
is  the  Spirit  of  Christ — the  Spirit  of  Immanuel, 
God  with  us  :  in  other  words,  that  dispensation, 
revelation,  or  display  of  the  divine  nature,  life, 
and  power,  which  is  adapted  to  the  situation,  the 
benefit,  the  exigencies,  of  created  intelligencies. 
And  these  believing  readers,  finding  that  the 
pQwer  which  acts  in  them,  which  influences,  in- 
cites, reproves,  restrains,  and  comforts,  eventu- 
ally tends  to  good,  they  cannot  doubt  that  it  is 
divine— that  is  of  God.  Hence  arises  an  in- 
creased value  and  esteem  for  these  writings,  as 
testifying  of  a  divine  principle  so  precious,  and 
of  the  experience  of  others  respecting  it,  and  of 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS, 


95 


Its  power  and  virtue,  so  corresponding  with  their 
own  views  and  experience  of  its  excellency,  and 
of  its  refining,  sanctifying  tendency. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


EXTRACTS  OF  LETTERS   WRITTEN  FROM 
THE  YEAR  1812  TO  1819. 


1812. — 1  mo.  4.  Many  are  the  ways  by 
which  our  poor  minds  are  liable  to  be  brought 
into  trouble  ;  I  think  I  know  this,  not  only  from 
the  relation  of  others,  but  from  my  own  repeat- 
ed experience.  Sometimes  inadvertences  of 
our  own  become  a  source  of  affliction  and  dis- 
tress ;  and  sometimes  this  is  accompanied  with 
infirmity  both  of  body  and  mind  ;  and,  from  these 
complicated  causes,  the  poor  creature  is  plung- 
ed into  unspeakable  perplexity,  from  which  \t 
sees  no  way  or  probability  of  escape ;  and  is 
hoping  sometimes  for  relief  one  way,  and  some-- 
times  another,  but  no  permanent  quiet  can  h& 
obtained.  Like  the  sea,  that  unstable  elementj- 
whose  billows  run  very  high,  and  wave  upoiT 
wave,  so  rest  and  quiet  seem  to  have  taken  their 
leave  of  us.  But  as  man  did  not  form,  or  cre- 
ate himself,  so,  neither  can  he  deliver  or  pre- 
serve himself.  Yet,  I  believe,  in  these  seasons 
of  deep  distress,  poor  mortals  are  under  the  im- 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


97 


mediate  and  peculiar  notice  of  the  Most  High ; 
and,  in  the  language  of  one  of  his  favored  ser- 
vants, we  may  say^  ''There  is  none  so  nigh 
sinking,,  but  He  puts  his  hand  under  theu'  head." 
He  knows  all  our  difficulties  and  perplexities ; 
He  marks  our  solitary  wanderings,  and  sees  the 
path  which  we  take.  O  !  then,  from  whatever 
causes  our  distresses  arise,  whether  ever  so  sim- 
ple, or  ever  so  complicated,  it  is  good,  it  is  safe, 
it  is  most  wise  to  trust  in  Him,  to  cast  our  care 
upon  Him,  who  knows  our  frame,  and  remem- 
bers that  we  are  but  dust ;  and  by  whom,  in  the 
em.phatic  language  of  our  blessed  Lord,  "  the 
very  hairs  of  our  head  are  all  numbered."  The 
great  thing  is,  and  I  hope,  as  thou  tenderly  de- 
sirest  it,  thou  ^-^ilt  more  and  more  experience  it 
to  be  a  truth  ;  the  great  thing  is,  to  endeavor  to 
be  still  and  wait  for  his  salvation,  under  a  hum- 
ble, but  quiet  sense  of  om-  own  inabihty  to  help 
ourselves.  Guard  against  impatience  or  activ- 
ity, but  crave  to  be  favored  with  stillness.  Let 
the  billows  pass  over,  and  wave  upon  wave ; 
but  keep  thou  in  the  quiet  habitation,  and  wait 
to  see  what  ^^ill  become  of  the  storm.  Do  not 
imagine  that  thou  canst  still  the  tempest,  nor  at- 
tempt m  thy  own  strength  to  do  it ;  but  endea- 
-  vor  to  stay  thy  mind  on  Him  who  formerly, 
when  his  poor  disciples  were  in  dismay,  said  to 
the  wind  and  the  waves,  "  Peace,  be  still ;  and 


98 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


there  was  a  great  calm  ;  and  they  were  filled 
with  wonder ;  and  cried  out.  What  manner  of 
man  is  this,  that  even  the  winds  and  the  sea 
obey  Him  ?" 

1812.— 9  7710,  20.  I  think  that,  on  both 
sides  of  the  middle  path  of  life,  there  is  great 
danger  of  mixing  with  the  spirit  of  the  world.- 
It  is  very  observable,  that  abundance  of  the 
good  things  of  this  life,  that  ease,  and  large  ac- 
quisitions of  knowledge,  have  that  tendency. 
On  the  other  hand,  where  there  is  a  great  want 
of  literary  qualification,  where  there  is  rusticity  of 
manners,  and  a  necessity  to  be  plodding  hard 
for  a  livelihood,  and  where  temporal  conveni- 
ences are  but  poorly  supplied  after  all,  there  is 
a  great  liability  for  the  mind  to  be  let  down  into 
the  same  state,  at  least  in  degree,  as  we  too  of- 
ten see  amongst  the  poorer  classes  of  the  peo- 
ple at  large.  Not  but  that  Truth,  which  is  om- 
nipotent to  all  good  purposes,  is  fully  equal  to 
preserve  in  all  right  allotments.  But  how  shall 
we  in  the  middle  stations,  be  sufficiently  thank- 
ful that  the  "  lines  have  fallen  to  us  in  pleasant 
places," — in  profitable  places,  may  I  not  say  ? 

It  seems  to  be  the  great  thing  wanting  in  my- 
self, and  I  suppose  in  the  Society,  a  capacity 
rightly,  and  therefore  availingly,  to  pray  ;  but 
we  must  look  forward,  and  press  forward :  hav- 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


99 


ing  put  our  hands  to  the  plough,  it  will  not  do 
to  look  back. 

That  we  are  not  our  own  :"  that  we  are 
not  to  gird  ourselves,  and  walk  whithersoever  we 
list,  is  a  tmth  so  clear  and  evident  to  the  en- 
lightened mind  ;  that  it  should  be,  I  think,  al- 
most a  first  principle  in  education,  in  doctrine, 
in  the  habitual  frame  of  the  mind.  But  who 
are  sufficient  for  these  things  ? 

May  you  be  favored  to  get  into  that  spot 
where,  the  eye  being  kept  single,  the  body  is 
full  of  light ; — where  the  earnest  desire  and 
breathing  of  every  one  is,  that  no  one  may  be 
w^ounded  or  hurt ; — where  the  willingness  to 
part  with  selfish  views  is  known  ; — where  the 
preservation  of  love,  harmony,  and  sweetness, 
is  felt  to  be  more  precious  than  any  outward 
good ;  and  where  the  mind  craves,  above  all 
things,  that  every  movement  may  be  agreeable 
to  the  will  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  and  tend  to 
his  honor  and  glory,  and  the  promotion  of  the 
cause  of  peace  and  righteousness.  And  I  siut 
cerely  question,  whether  there  be  any  way  in 
which  we  more  acceptably  serve  Him,  than 
when,  in  the  transaction  of  our  outward  affairs, 
we  are  preserved  in  meekness,  quietness,  and 
self-denial,  with  our  eye  and  desire  to  Him  for 
guidance,  limitation,  and  protection. 

1812.— 11   mo,  29.     The   principle  of 


100 


EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 


light,  life,  and  power,  as  submitted  to,  more 
and  more  leads  the  awakened  and  dedicated 
mind  out  of  a  conformity  to  the  maxims  and 
manners  of  the  world,  by  a  path  of  humble  self- 
denial,  to  the  enjoyment  of  a  peace  which  is 
substantial,  sweet,  and  precious.  Press  after  it, 
my  dear  friend  :  press  into  the  enjoyment  of  it : 
whatsoever  sacrifices  are  required,  I  entreat 
thee  to  make  them  through  the  rene wings  of 
best  help.  Do  not  embitter  thy  future  days, 
by  persevering  in  opposition  to  the  clear  mani- 
festations of  the  light  of  Truth.  Get  not  into  ab- 
stract reasonings  on  things;  but  eye  the  light, 
and  follow  it,  step  by  step,  as  the  way  is  open- 
ed for  thy  complete  deliverance. 

How  precious  it  is,  my  dear  friend,  in  im- 
portant movements,  to  feel  a  humble,  reverent, 
filial  trust  in  the  divine  blessing  on  our  under- 
takings ;  and  though,  at  times,  we  may  not  be 
favored  with  very  clear  and  strong  light  upon 
our  path,  yet,  being  preserved  in  a  fear  of  of- 
fending, and  in  a  sense  that,  without  the  divine 
blessing  upon  it,  all  our  acquisitions  and  enjoy- ' 
ments  will  have  a  void,  a  painful  void,  here  we 
are' in  the  way  of  safety.  There  is,  may  I  not 
say,  an  indescribable  distinction  between  those 
.who  hate  really  believed  in  the  reality  of  divine, 
inward,  immediate  communication  to  the  soul, 
.and  those  who  have  not.  Faith  in  this  divine  gift 


EXTRACTS   OF   LETTERS.  101 


f  is  a  most  precious  thing— a  most  valuable  treasure; 
not  to  be  trifled  with  ;  not  to  be  bartered  away  ; 
but  to  be  reverently,  humbly,  and  perse veringly 
treasured  up,  improved,  and  lived  upon.  Re- 
member this,  my  dear  friend  ;  and  may  heaven- 
ly goodness  be  near  to  help,  direct,  and  sustain 
thee.  Amen. 

1813. — 2  7no.  18.   Our  principles  are 

calculated  to  inspire  love,  esteem,  and  confi- 
dence ;  inasmuch,  as  they  point  to  humility,  a 
general  courteous  behavior  to  all,  and  to  strict 
punctuality.  How  do  I  desire  that  *  *  and  * 
may  be  favored  to  keep  little  and  thankful ; 
,  sensible  what  a  favor  it  is  to  be  enabled  to  pro- 
cure, by  industry  and  attention,  a  comfortable 
competency,  and  at  the  same  time  sensible  also 
that  this  is  not  all  that  we  want  to  make  us  tru- 
ly useful  and  happy.  Uncertainty  attends  the 
most  flattering  outward  prospects.  Young  men 
enojao-ino;  in  business  are  much  to  be  felt  for  and 
sympathized  with,  that  they  may  be  preserved 
from  unprofitable  depression  on  the  one  hand, 
and  undue  elevation  on  the  other  :  happy  if 
they  can  be  preserved,  using  their  best,  honest, 
and  upright  endeavors,  whilst  they  feel  a  de- 
pendence on  our  Heavenly  Father  for  the  need- 
ivi\  supplies  of  strength  of  body  and  mind  ;  of 
prudence,  of  discretion,  and  well-regulated  af- 
fections and  desires,  i 


10r2 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


1813.— 3  mo.  2.  In  the  flo wings  of  love, 
and  in  the  enlargements  or  expansion  of  the 
mind,  we  may,  I  believe,  sometimes  be  ready  - 
to  recommend  writings  which  are  really  very 
estimable ;  and  yet  in  which,  from  the  first  word 
to  the  last,  perhaps  there  is  not  a  single  point- 
ing to  the  Word  nigh  in  the  heart,  the  divine 
gift,  or  light  of  Christ.  Does  it  not  require 
great  care  how  such  are  recommended  ?  I  write 
with  caution,  not  wishing  to  prevent  any  good  ; 
but  it  wants  to  be  more  understood  in  the 
world,  (and  what  if  this  be  one  of  the  great  ends 
of  our  being  raised  up,)  that  it  is  not  compre- 
hending sublime  truths,  even  the  truths  of  the 
Gospel,  so  much  as  seeing  and  knowing  our 
own  individual  part  of  the  great  whole,  that  is 
the  grand  desideratum  for  us  all ;  and  which  do 
we  not  allow,  cannot  any  way  be  so  well  known, 
as  by  diligent  attention  to  this  divine  gift  ?  At- 
tending to  this  divine  gift  in  ourselves,  and  so 
being  drawn  and  kept  under  its  influence,  it  be- 
comes our  element,  and  we  move  healthfully 
and  safely  along  in  it.  And  in  this  element, 
not  out  of  it,  we  may  look  at  many  things,  and 
touch  many  things,  perhaps  without  spiritual 
loss,  and  possibly  with  spiritual  advantage  ;  but 
the  danger  and  the  loss  seem  to  be  from  med-  "  - 
dling  with  religious  and  spiritual  things,  out  of 
this  element.    Keeping  in  this  element,  we  are^^ 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


103 


in  the  way  of  feeling  the  Hberty  of  Truth,  and 
its  blessed  restraints,  as  to  touching,  tasting,  or 
handling  this,  that,  or  the  other  thing,  that  is 
thrown  in  our  way. 

1813. — 11  mo.  12.  It  is  indeed  occasion  for 
thankfulness,  that  thou  art  peimitted  to  report 
so  favorably,  which  I  hope  may  continue  to  be 
the  case,  as  thou  art  preserved  desirous  that  thy 
days  may.be  spent  m  humility,  watchfulness, 
and  fear :  so  that  the  blessing  may  attend  thy 
honest  and  upright  endeavors.  There  is  a  fear 
lest  any  right  endeavors  on  our  part  should  be 
wanting,  which,  I  believe,  is  acceptable  in 
the  divine  sight,  and  tends  to  preservation  ;  and 
there  is  an  anxiety  and  earnestness,  which,  I  be- 
lieve, wounds  the  religious  mind,  and  is  not 
fruitful  of  good.  So  that  the  prayer  formerly 
put  up,  is  emphatically  adapted  to  the  Christ- 
ian traveller  of  all  generations  ,  Give  me  nei- 
ther riches  nor  poverty,  but  feed  me  vr\t\\  food 
convenient  for  me."  And  1  am  glad  thou  art 
favored  to  be  connected  with  those  who,  whilst 
they  are  caring  that  temporal  matters  may  be 
prudently  and  reputably  ordered,  are  desirous  of 
giving  the  upper  hand  to  those  things  which  per- 
ish not  with  the  using ;  but  which  are  necessary 
to  be  sought  after,  cherished,  and  preferred, 
whether  our  allotment,  as  to  the  outward,  be  in 
prosperity  or   adversity.     I  sincerely  desire 


104  EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 

your  preservation,  and  that  the  best  blessing 
may  attend  and  enrich  your  minds  :  so  may  the 
effects  thereof  be  increasingly  your  happy  expe- 
rience ;  even  meekness,  patience,  contentment, 
sweetness,  love. 

I  am  sorry  for  the  account  of  poor  :  s' 

misconduct.  I  am  in  hopes  that  separation  and 
restraint  from  improper  company  may  place  her 
in  a  capacity  to  discern  more  distinctly  wherein 
tme  happiness  consists,  and  the  path  which 
leads  to  it.  Speaking  on  the  subject,  I  am  re- 
minded of  the  experience  of  that  dignified  dis- 
ciple of  the  great  Master,  Isaac  Penington, 
where  I  think  he  describes  himself  as  in  a  state 
of  mourning  for  all  the  miserable,  however  de- 
servedly so. 

It  was  very  pleasant  to  hear  so  agreeable  an 

account  of  ,  for  whose  preservation  out 

of  every  hurtful  thing  we  can  unite  with  you  in 
desire.  And  I  wish  he  may  be  favored  to  see 
what  a  privilege  it  is  to  be  comfortably  intro- 
duced into  business,  without  the  hazard,  to 
wiiich  many  suffer  themselves  to  be  exposed, 
of  convulsive  shocks,  which  endanger  both  tem- 
poral and  spiritual  comfort.  He  seems  to  have 
slidden  into  an  establishment  very  easily,  and 
perhaps  with  as  much  encouragement  as  is  de- 
sirable. I  hope  nothing  w'ill  be  permitted  to 
take  him  off  his  feet,  either  prospeiity  or  ad- 


EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 


105 


versity,  for  there  are  snares  in  both  :  but  that,  by 
endeavoring  to  appreciate  the  favors  received, 
he  may  set  a  proper,  not  an  improper,  value  up- 
on them,  and  see  the  necessity  of  watchfulness 
in  every  stage  of  his  progress,  if  he  would  be 
kept  from  wandering,  and  know  an  advance- 
ment in  the  pursuit  and  enjoyment  of  substan- 
tial good,  temporally  and  spiritually. 

"  Ob  !  the  long  list  of  mercies  undeserved, 
And  oh  !  what  greater  gifts  are  still  reserved. - 

So  that  there  is  abundant  encouragement  to 
those  who  are  humbly  in  the  pursuit  of  happi- 
ness, within  the  limits  and  appointment  of  that 
Wisdom  and  Goodness  which  are  infinite. 

1815. — 2  mo.  16.    In  the  first  place,  and 

jDre-eminently,  1  am  anxious,  my  dear   ,  to 

say,  that  if  thou  wert  to  be  induced  to  leave 

 ,  I  should  entertam  little  doubt  but  that  an 

enemy  had  done  it.  When,  through  the  per- 
mission of  a  kind  and  gracioiis  Providence,  we 
are  so  situated  as  to  be  not  only  comfortably  pro- 
vided for,  set  down  with  comparative  safety,  and 
free  from  the  risks  to  which  many  are  exposed, 
which  greatly  agitate  and  prevent  a  religious 
gTowth  :  but  ai-e  also  in  the  way  to  make  a  rea- 
sonable, and  even  a  handsome,  provision  for 
that  time  of  hfe.  if  pern  '^^--^  +c  reach  it,  vvhcn 
i2  ' 


i06  EXTRACTS   OF  LETTf^RS'. 

much  exertion  would  be  inconvenient,  if  not  un- 
suitable : — -when  we  are  thus  circumstanced, 
how  needful  it  is  for  the  religiously-visited  mind 
to  labor  after  a  state  not  only  of  content,  but  of 
gratitude ;  and  in  the  very  depth  of  sincerity, 
on  any  contemplation  of  a  change,  to  say,  "  O 
Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  if  thy  presence  go  not 
with  me,  carry  me  not  hence."  Oh  !  the  ma- 
ny ways  there  are  by  which  we  may  be  betray- 
ed from  a  state  of  humility  and  reverence  of 
mind,  and  drawn  out  of  the  land  of  Goshen,  the 
spot  appointed  for  the  children  of  the  promise, 
ihto  the  land  of  Egyptian  captivity,  where  con- 
fusion and  darkness  prevail,  a  darkness  which 
maybe  felt.  My  heart,  I  think,  in  measure, 
travails  for  thy  preservation  out  of  those  things 
that  lift  up  the  mind,  prompting  to  aspire  after 
great  things  ;  and  unfitting,  disqualifying,  to  sit, 
in  a  lowly  posture,  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  the  ho- 
ly example  of  obedience  and  self-denial. 

With  me  it  is  a  very  tender  thing  for  any 
visited  mind  to  leave  a  situation,  in  which  the 
blessing  has  not  been  withheld,  inwardly  and 
outwardly.  It  is,  I  think,  a  ready  way  for  the 
ungrateful  receiver  to  experience  a  withering  as 
to  the  di\Tne  hfe,  and  often  lamentable  miscar- 
riage as  to  the  outward. 

Oh  !  the  safety,  the  unspeakable  adx^antage  of 
keeping  heaven  uppermost,  and  the  earth  un- 


EXTRACTS   OF   LETTERS.  lOt 

dermost.  May  this  never  be  unliappily  revers- 
ed in  me,  or  any,  for  whose  welfare  I  am  partic- 
ularly concerned. 

1816. — ^9  mo.  19.  I  hope,  with  moderate 
industry  and  prudent  care,  you  will  be  permit- 
ted, if  your  days  are  prolonged,  to  continue  ma* 
kmg  some  additions  to  your  property ;  thereby 
enlarging  3'our  sphere  of  usefulness,  as  well  as 
increasmg  your  comfort.  jMuch  riches  I  do  not  ^ 
covet  for  you  :  they  are  not  necessary  for  our 
sweetest  enjoyments.  Supineness  and  in  atten- 
tion are  productive  of  very  little  good:  but 
moderate  application,  in  a  reliance  on  the  bles- 
sings of  Providence  upon  our  humble  and  up- 
right endeavors,  adds  much  to  our  comfort,  keep- 
ing our  faculties  bright,  and  even,  I  beheve,  the 
more  susceptible  of  good.  I  wish  your  com-  . 
fort,  and  that  you  may  rightly  appreciate  the  ■ ' 
time  and  opportunity  put  into  your  hands,  wise- 
ly applying  your  attention  between  spiritual  and 
temporal  things.  1  had  written  dividing ,  hnl  \ 
drew  the  pen  over  it,  thinking  the  expression 
exceptionable  :  because  I  believe  we  may  be  fa- 
v^ored  to  have  our  minds  so  preserved  as  to 
maintain  an  undivided  preference  for  that  which 
is  best  of  all,  (though  necessarily  engaged,  and 
rightly  so,  in  the  concerns  of  this  life.)  and  to 
feel  that  we  have  indeed  a  connection  with  ev- 


108 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


er  and  ever,  whilst  we  are  conversajit  with  the 
vicissitudes  of  an  earthly  pilgrimage. 

1816. — 12  mo.  28.  It  is  a  very  interesting 
and  momentous  time  for  you ;  ^nd  I  suppose 
you  hardly  ever  had  more  occasion  for  best 
wisdom  to  direct  your  deliberations,  that  all  may 
be  done  in  sweetness,  harmony,  and  love,  as  well 
as  with  wisdom  and  a  sound  mind.  I  desire 
your  preservation  and  ours  on  every  hand,  that 
true  happiness  and  comfort  may  be  your  peace- 
ful portion  and  ours,  and,  in  the  end,  your  and 
our  enriching  crown.  I  believe,  in  order  for- 
this,  it  is  needful  to  dwell  very  low,  where  the 
right  discernment  is  given  ;  and  the  feeling 
know^n,  whereby  a  capacity  to  distinguish  is  at- 
tained, and  preservation  witnessed. 

As  you  desire  in  simplicity  so  to  move  as  you 
believe  will  be  the  readiest  way  to  solid  peace, 
I  hope  and  believe  that  a  blessing  will  attend 
you.  When  the  mind  is  preserved  in  a  watchful 
care  to  do  right,  and  is  fearful  of  wounding  its 
own  solid  peace,  I  believe  that,  although  many 
perplexities  may  be  permitted  to  attend  the  path 
which  w^e  tread,  yet  He  who  sees  us  and  knows 
our  thoughts,  and  who,  as  a  Father  pitieth  his 
children,  pitieth  those  that  fear  Him,  will  re- 
member us  in  an  accepted  time,  and  be  as  a 
hiding-place  from  the  storm,  feothat  it  is  good 
to  trust  in  Him  at  all  times^  and  to  endeavor  to 


EXTKACTS   or   LETTERS.  109 


v%"alk,  as  we  believe,  considering  our  respective 
circumstances,  will  be  acceptable  in  his  holy 
sight. 

My  desire  is,  that  you  may  study  moderation 
in  your  pursuit  of  business  ;  not  stretching  your 
arms  very  wide :  endeavoring  to  carry  a  snug 
sail,  as  the  safest  in  stormy  weather;  not  hazard- 
ing the  peace  and  composure,  the  solid  happiness 
of  your  minds,  for  any  specious  and  glittering,  . 
but  uncertain  and  dangerous  prospects.  Be 
content  with  what  you  can,  through  favor,  com- 
pass, and  compass  with  satisfaction. 

1817. — 3  mo.  20.  A  tender  sensibility,  and 
a  disposition  raised  in  the  mind  to  crave  and 
press  after  that  which  can  be  depended  on  as 
substantial,  sustaining  food,  is  very  precious.  It 
introduces  into  the  exercise  of  that  faith  which 
becomes,  from  time  to  time,  the  Christian's 
victory,  and,  through  heavenly  goodness,  his 
eventual  triumph.  "  This  is  the  victory  that 
overcometh  the  world,  even  your  faith." 

My  object  seems  to  be  to  express  a  desire 
that  thou  mayst  indeed  be  preserved  in  a  state 
of  humble  dependence  on  the  dinne  arm  of 
Omnipotence  ;  not  seeking  or  desiring  great  at- 
tainments ;  but  preservation  near  to  that  which 
has  \isited,  believing  that  in  that  are  hid  the 
treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge,  ready  to  be 


110  EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 

handed  forth  according  to  the  good  will  and 
pleasure  of  Him  who  doeth  all  things  well. — 
Mayest  thou  live  in  a  state  of  watchfulness  for 
the  unfoldings  of  heavenly  counsel,  as  mercifully, 
from  time  to  time,  and  at  any  time,  vouchsafed; 
desiring  also  to  increase  in  subjection  of  the 
will,  and  in  well-timed  obedience.  To  the 
obedient  mind,  I  believe,  the  unfoldings  of 
heavenly  counsel  are  vouchsafed,  in  a  way  and 
time  suited  to  our  condition. 

Considering  how  supremely  needHil  it  is  for 
the  religiously  visited  mind  to  attend  to  its  own 
peculiar  exercise,  I  have  felt  solicitous  that 
nothing,  however  specious,  might  involve  thee 
in  unprofitable  speculation.  This  does  not  go 
to  the  prevention  of  the  exercise  of  our  mental 
faculties,  as  rational  creatures ;  but  to  the  ex- 
citing of  great  watchfulness  and  care,  to  dis- 
tinguish what,  in  our  mental  pursuits,  makes  for 
peace,  and  what  does  not.  There  is  a  precious 
saying ;  As  many  as  are  baptized  into  Christ, 
have  put  on  Christ."  It  is  a  great  favor  to  have, 
in  any  measure,  put  him  on;  and  greatly,  I 
believe,  will  it  tend  to  our  safety,  to  be  pretty 
sure  that  we  do  not  put  Him,  the  beloved  of  " 
souls,  off,  and  clothe  ourselves  with  something 
else,  in  any  of  our  pursuits,  even  those  which 
have  a  religious  or  spiritual  semblance. 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


1818. — 11  7/20.  10.  Probably  some  of  those 
ha\ing  the  care  of  youth,  and  heads  of  famihes, 
among  whom  I  inckide  myself,  have  not  been 
enough  concerned  to  watch  the  openings  of 
right  capacity  in  themselves  to  conve}-.  and  in 
the  openings  of  right  capacity  m  the  youth  to 
receive,  lively  instruction :  and  it  appears  to 
me,  that  this  watchfulness  for  the  opening  is  the 
thing  wanted  among  us.  It  is,  I  believe,  a 
humbling, heart  work,  and  would  greatly  promote 
the  sro^th  both  of  oruardians  and  their  charoje. 

 Amidst  the  contemplation  of  the  subject 

of  religious  instruction,  I  have  remembered  with 
some  comfort,  those  expressions  of  our  blessed 
Lord  to  his  followers  :  "  I  have  many  things  to 
say  unto  you,  but  ye  cannot  bear  them  now  ' 
and  I  think  it  certainly  requires  care,  how  we 
press  religious  truths  too  far  beyond  the  religious 
capacity  of  young  people ;  perhaps  not  possess- 
ing the  essential  preparation  for  the  reception  of 
difilise  religious  instruction,  a  resignation  of  the 
mind  to  bear  the  cross.  To  excite  a  ^willingness 
to  bear  the  cross,  with  an  eye  to  the  cro^n,  I 
consider  a  first  principle  in  Christian  education. 
If  I  am  not  mistaken,  it  has  often  been  inculcated 
as  a  sound  principle,  not  to  puzzle  ourselves  too 
much  to  comprehend  doctrinal  passages  of  Scrip- 
ture; but  to  leave  them  to  be  opened  to  our  under- 


1P2 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


Standings,  if  needful,  in  the  due  and  acceptable 
time. 

 I  think,  my  dear  friend,  though  I  have 

said  so  much,  (I  fear  too  much  forme,)  I  should 
scarcely  be  satisfied  without  now  suggesting  one 
idea  that  has  often  presented,  respecting  the  in- 
struction of  our  young  people,  viz.  I  fear  the 
public  recommendation  of  any  specific  plan,  for 
obvious  reasons ;  but  when  one  individual,  or 
more,  see  their  way  to  set  about  it,  within  their 
own  sphere  of  action,  I  think  it  may  be  useful 
and  safe ;  because  this  may  be  continued  and 
prosecuted,  as  far  and  as  long  as  the  oil  flows ; 
and  when  it  ceases,  procedure  may  be  dropped, 
or  contracted,  as  freedom  warrants.  And  if  the 
blessing  is  on  it,  we  may  safely  trust  that  it  will 
be  productive  of  benefit,  and  that  the  example 
will  be  influential,  and  perhaps  widely  so.  This 
latter  remark  may,  in  degree,  apply  also  to  press- 
ing the  reading  of  Friends'  writings.  A  thirst 
for  good  will  naturally  lead  to  this.  To  excite 
this  thirst,  then,  seems  the  first  object.  To  a 
mind  not  thirsty.  Friends' writings  are,  I  believe, 
ofi;en  very  dull  and  insipid :  to  a  mind  in  which 
the  thirst  is  excited,  they  are,  indeed,  as  a  brook 
by  the  way;  very  precious,  very  sweet,  very 
reviving.  - 
,  /  Leaving  this,  shall  I  mention  vi^ithout  weary- 
ing thee,  that  it  has  lately  occurred  to  me,  that 


'EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


113 


an  advantage  might  be  derived  from  pleading 
our  belief  in  the  Divine  omnipresence,  as  one 
reason  of  our  silent  waiting  in  our  meetings,  and 
at  other  times  :  namely,  because  we  beheve  that 
He  is  ever  near  us ;  that  He  is  ever  over  us, 
round  about  us ;  and  because  in  him  we  live, 
and  move,  and  have  our  being  ?  And  although 
we  are  not  at  all  times,  pemiitted  to  be  sensible 
of  his  presence,  yet  whenever  it  pleases  Him,  he 
can  make  us  perceive  it,  as  in  the  tT^inkling  of 
an  eye,  and  comfort  us  with  his  hght  and  love. 
And  believing  that  this  perception  of  his  love 
is  our  greatest  good,  and  not  at  all  at  our  com- 
mand, we  find  it  our  duty  and  our  interest, 
Imowing  that  He  is  ever  nigh  at  hand,  to  wait 
his  time  and  pleasure  for  making  us  sensible  of 
it.  And  when  He  is  pleased  to  bless  us,  and  to 
bow  our  minds,  and  the  faculties  of  the  soul,  in 
reverence  and  prostration,  under  a  sense  of  his 
goodness,  and  of  our  absolute  need  of  Him  and 
dependence  upon  Him,  then  we  believe  is  per- 
formed in  us,  and  by  us,  that  worship  which  is 
acceptable  unto  Him.  God  is  a  Spirit,  and 
they  that  worship  Him  must  worship  Him  in 
spirit  and  in  truth."  And  in  order  that  this 
worship  may,  from  time  to  time,  be  perfomied 
in  the  newness  of  life,  it  must  be  in  fresh  ability, 
which  He  giveth,  or  rather  lendeth  ;  for  He  does 
not  bestow  it  as  an  abiding  capacity,  to  be  ex- 

K 


114  EXTRACTS   OF  LETTER^. 

ertised  in  our  will  and  time  ;  but  it  mitst  be, 
from  time  to  time,  humbly  and  patiently  waited 
for.  Would  it  not  be  a  likely  thing  to  impress 
this  view  of  the  Omnipresence  on  the  minds  of 
young  people,  as  most  precious  and  consolatory, 
and  as  that  which  should  inspire  us  with  awe, 
and  reverence,  and  abasedness  on  one  hand,  and 
with  animation  and  confidence  on  the  other. 

1818. — -11  mo.  25.  My  sincere  desire  is, 
that  the  circumstances  which  have  occured  may 
be  sanctified  to  you  ;  that  the  blessing  of  Provi- 
dence may  be  over  you,  and  round  about  you ; 
and  that  the  blessings  of  love,  harmony,  and 
peace,  on  a  right  and  pure  foundation,  may  be 
your  enriching  experience.  I  feel  for  your 
prosperity  on  a  right  ground  so  sincerely,  that  I 
return  again  to  that  subject.  Keep  low  and 
humble,  and  attentive  to  best  instruction  in  the 
secret  of  your  own  minds  ;  and  then,  I  hope, 
preservation  will  be  vouchsafed  to  you.  Do 
not  crave  great  things.  Remember  the  saying 
of  a  worthy  character:  I  desire  not  riches, 
but  to  owe  nothing."  Thou  knowest  I  like 
commendable  industry.  'The  sluggard  cannot 
reasonably  expect  to  prosper;  but  then  our 
eye,  and  the  dependence  of  our  minds,  should 
be  to  the  Lord,  and  to  his  blessing  upon  our 
honest,  upright,  and  moderately  circumscribed 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


no 


endeavors.  In  any  material  and  important 
movement,  consult  us  with  much  openness  and 
unreserved  freedom,  as  we  desire  thy  preserva- 
tion on  every  hand.  I  believe  all  right  situations 
have  their  attendant  probations :  and  however 
we  may  move,  we  must  not  expect  to  be  with- 
out  them.  Trials  bring  weight :  and  a  weighty 
mind  is  a  great  blessing. 

It  is  a  matter  of  sincere  regret  that  has 

so  much  traveling.    I  am  well  aware  of  its  un 
settUng  and  injurious  tendency,  as  it  respects 
the  humble,  tender,  well-regulated  state  of  the 
)nind  of  almost  any  Friend, 

1819. — 1  mo.  23.  1  have  entertained  some 
iear,  lest  I  had  not  properly  expressed  my  own 
views  and  wishes,  on  some  part  of  the  subjects 
touched  upon  in  my  communication  of  the  11th 
month  ;*  particularly  that  of  encouraging  young 
persons  to  read  the  writings  of  our  early  Friends. 
Perhaps  no  one  wishes  more  sincerely  than  my- 
self, to  see  this  practice  prevail  among  our  young 
Friends,  as  well  as  those  more  advanced.  It 
is  particularly  cordial  lo  me  te  see  young  people 
so  engaged  ;  and  1  desire  it  may  be  encouraged 
ill  every  proper  way.    There  are  many  ways, 


^  See  the  last  preceding  Letter  but  one.  page  114. 


116  EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 

doubtless,  of  doing  this  ;  and  I  feel  anxious  that 
nothing  which  has  escaped  my  pen  may  dis- 
courage any  honest  and  upright  endeavor  to 
promote  this  object.  Many  of  the  writings  of 
our  worthy  predecessors,  with  some  of  those  of 
later  date,  I  esteem  an  invaluable  treasure  to  the 
Society,  not  to  say  to  the  world  ;  and  my  desire 
is,  that  they  may  be  duly  appreciated  by  all 
ranks  amongst  us. 

I  am  fully  aware  that  a  careful  parent  or 
guardian  may  very  suitably  recommend  or  use 
Friends'  waitings,  as  one  means,  and  a  very 
likely  means,  to  excite  and  increase  the  thirst 
here  spoken  of;  and  perhaps,  just  in  this  place, 
I  may  not  improperly  tell  thee,  that  this  morn- 
ing, just  when  I  was  thinking  to  address  thee,  I 
very  unexpectedly  cast  my  eye  on  a  few  lines, 
w^hich  I  sometime  ago  penned,  and  which  I  had 
quite  forgotten,  to  the  following  import :  they 
may  seem  somewhat  illustrative  of  my  view  of 
this  matter.  "  If  the  mind  is  directed  to  that 
which  is  good,  becoming  tender  in  the  fear  of 
the  Lord,  expecting  all  good  from  Him  as  the 
everlasting  fountain  of  happiness,  peace,  and 
comfort,  there  is  a  good  foundation  laid  for  re- 
ceiving the  openings  of  Truth,  either  imme- 
diately by  the  Spirit,  or  instrumentally  by  the 
Scriptures,  ministry,  or  good  books." 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS, 


in 


1819.— 9  mo.  18.    We  have  often  cause  for 
thankfulness,  when  we  can  remember  any  past 
opportunity  with  sweetness  and  satisfaction  in 
the  retrospect.    This  has  been  the  case,  with 
respect  to  thy  late  visit  to  us.  It  left  me  tenderly 
interested  about  thee  ;  so  much  so,  that  I  seemed 
as  if  I  might  not  do  safely,  if  I  omitted  telling 
thee  so.    I  think  I  am  not  mistaken  in  believing 
that  thy  mind  often  possesses  a  precious  sensi- 
bility of  desire  after  good, — after  peace  and 
substantial  happiness.    And  oh !  the  longing 
that  I  have  felt  that  nothing  may  be  pennitted 
to  quench  this  desire  in  thy  heart ;  but  rather 
that  it  may  grow  and  increase,  until  nothing, 
nothing  in  this  world,  may  bear  any  comparison 
with  it  in  thy  estimation.    Endeavor,  I  beseech 
thee,  to  keep  thy  mind  inward  unto  the  Lord. 
Lean  upon  Him,  trust  in  Him,  and  He  will  sus- 
tain thee  in  the  humbling  path  of  self-denial 
and  lowly-mindedness.     I  do   not  mean  a 
voluntary  humility  ;  but  that  humility  which  is 
induced  by  a  watchful,  well-timed  obedience  to 
the  secret  manifestations  of  the  divine  will. — 
This  will  humble  the  creature  ;  but,  blessed  be 
his  name,  it  leads  into,  and  preserves  in,  a  ca- 
.      pacity  to  receive  the  further  and  further  mani- 
-^4     festations  of  his  Will,  of  his  Truth,  of  his  Light, 
of  his  Love,  even  as  He  knows  we  can  bear  it, 
and  as,  in  his  wisdom,  He  sees  meet  to  imfold 
k2 


118 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


them  to  us.  But,  oh  !  the  great  loss  which  is 
sustained,  I  believe,  through  the  want  of  follow- 
ing on  to  know  Him,  in  the  only  way  in  which 
we  can  attain  to  the  knowledge  of  Him,  the 
way  of  Faith  ;  which  word  implies  not  only  be- 
lief in,  but  reliance  and  dependence  upon  Him. 
And  though  this  may  sometimes  be  found  a 
tribulated  path,  I  believe  it  is  the  path  to  the 
kingdom  of  heaven — the  kingdom  of  peace  and 
joy ;  begun,  and  revealed  in  degree,  I  believe, 
to  the  redeemed  mind  even  in  this  life,  and  con- 
summated in  that  which  is  to  come. 

When  I  consider  where  thou  art  placed,  the 
large  meeting  thou  belongest  to; — how  desirable 
it  appears  to  me,  that  thou  shouldst  make  an 
early  and  full  surrender.  Keep  in  the  quiet: 
keep  in  sweet  innocence.  Let  peace  be  the 
primary  object ;  and  then  other  things  rightly 
permitted  and  dispensed,  will  be  enjoyed  with 
humility  and  thankfulness. 

What  would  sincere  dedication  and  submis- 
sion in  a  few  individuals,  do  in  your  large  meet- 
ing. How  would  example  strengthen  and  en- 
courage others  to  come  forward,  who  are  halting 
between  two  opinions  ;  and  whilst  they  hesitate, 
weakness  besets,  and  probably  increases : — 
whereas,  if  faithfulness  were  yielded  to  the 
manifestations  of  Truth  in  the  mind,  how  would 
the  divine  arm  support  and  sustain;  how  would 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS.  119 


Strength  be  afforded  to  walk  steadil}'  forward, 
perhaps  with  feeble  and  diffident,  but  with  safe 
and  peaceful  steps.  Oh  !  the  exceeding  pre- 
ciousness  of  early  dedication,  of  early  submitting 
the  creaturely  will  to  the  discoveries  of  duty. 
Inasmuch  as  the  Almighty  is  the  fountain  of 
happiness,  the  more  we  look  to  Him  for  direction 
and  safe  guidance,  the  more  likely  we  are  to 
arrive  at  this  fountain  ;  and,  I  believe,  in  conde- 
scending loving-kindness.  He  is  dealing  with 
those  who  early  make  Him  their  choice.  I  be- 
lieve He  gives  them  to  experience  his  fatherly 
care  over  them ;  and  every  now  and  then  gives 
them  some  proof  that  it  is  well  for  them  that 
they  have  trusted  in  Him. 

I  do  not  wish  to  enlarge  ;  but  I  want  to  en- 
courage thee  to  be  of  those  who  sit  alone,  and 
keep  silence  ;  bearing  the  yoke,  that  precious 
yoke,  which,  through  divine  goodness,  keeps 
down  in  us  those  dispositions  and  propensities, 
which,  if  not  kept  under,  will  retard  or  prevent 
the  growth  of  the  plant  of  renown,  in  that  dig- 
nity and  stature  which  it  otherwise  would  at- 
tam,  and  which  should  outgrow  and  overgrow 
every  thing  else  in  us. 

 I  was  not  sure  whether  the  cause  [ol 

religion]  might  not,  in  some  degree,  suffer  from 
my  remarks  respecting  the  intimations  of  Truth 


1^0 


7i:XTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 


to  the  mind  about  outward  concerns.  Perhaps 
an  apprehension  of  tlie  right  thing  suffering  by 
our  friend's  over-rating  some  of  bis  impressions, 
at  the  same  time  that  he  is  managing  so  poorly, 
might  drive  me  too  far  in.  expression  on  the 
opposite  side.  Exceedingly  precious,  when 
vouchsafed,  do  1  esteem  the  guidance  of  a 
gracious  Providence  respecting  outward  things. 
But  I  think  I  have  noticed  that  some  of  those 
whom  I  have  loved,  esteemed,  and  honored,  have 
been  very  cautious  of  speaking  of  this  favor,  as 
it  respected  themselves ;  probably  considering 
it  as  something  that  is  better  know^n  and  felt, 
than  talked  about ;  and  scarcely  enough  given 
them  as  their  own,  to  be  made  so  free  with  : — 
being,  in  order  to  keep  the  creature  humble, 
]o\v,  fearful,  dependent,  and  in  self-abasement, 
so  gently  and  faintly,  though  intelligibly  marked 
and  defined  to  themselves,  as  m.ay  serve  to  pre- 
serve them  walking  by  faith,  and  not  by  strong- 
sight.  Should  a  suitable  opportunity  occur, 
perhaps  thou  wilt  mention  a  few  words  ex- 
pressive of  my  sense  of  the  matter.  I  should 
not  like  to  hurt  the  cause,  nor  wound  our 
friend's  mind  to  his  disadvantage.  I  tmst  I  may 
thankfully  say,  that  I  am  a  humble  believer  in 
the  condescension,  goodness,  and  mercy  of  our 
heavenly  Father  to  his  dependent  children,  both 


EXTRACTS   or   LETTERS.  121 


respecting  their  outward  and  inward  condition 
and  circumstances. 

 I  wish  both  you  and  we  may  be  favoredj 

at  seasons,  with  the  renewings  of  best  ability  to 
desii'e  for  all  the  youth,  most  particularly  the 
objects  of  our  care,  that  the  divine  fear  may  be 
richly  placed  in  their  hearts,  as  the  most  effectual 
way  and  m.eans  for  them  to  inherit  every  blessing 
consistent  with  the  Hea^-enly  Father's  will  for 
them  to  enjoy  ;  and  as  the  blessed  preservation 
from  the  many  evils  which  abound  in  the  vrorld. 
and  which  court  their  affection. 


CHAPTER  VIL 


EXTRACTS   OF    LETTERS  WRITTEN  FROM 
1820  TO  1823. 


1820. — 3  mo.  9.  It  is  not  pleasant  to  me, 
that  thy  kind  and  acceptable  letter  of  last  month 
should  have  remained  so  long  unacknowledged. 
I  believe  it  can  be  attributed  to  no  cause  more 
jastly,ihan  to  the  poverty  of  my  own  mind; 
tliough  I  am  aw^are,  that  the  expression  of  this 
is  not  likely  to  make  thee  rich.  However,  it 
behoves  us  to  endure  w^ith  patience  our  allot- 
ment, and  the  various  changes  which  are  per- 
mitted ;  and  happy  is  it,  if  our  poverty  be  not 
the  consequence  of  our  own  indolence,  inatten- 
tion, or  disobedience.  My  own  health  is  very 
favorably  continued  ;  but  I  very  often  remem- 
ber the  flight  of  time,  and  that  many,  very  many 
sands  have  escaped  from  the  glass.  This  is  a 
chequered  and  very  uncertain  scene  :  how  hap- 
py for  tliose,  who  under  all,  and  through  all, 
are  permitted  often  to  cast  anchor  ;  and  feeling- 
ly to  acknowledge,  that  the  Lord  is  good,  wor- 
thy to  be  waited  for,  served,  honored,  and  obey- 
ed, under  all  circumstances,and  in  all  conditions. 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS, 


1S21. — -12  mo.  15.  Oh!  the  importance, 
As  I  view  the  subject,  of  Frienda  keeping  in  the 
unity,  out  of  disputations,  in  the  self-denial, 
(which  includes  a  willingness  to  suffer.)  in  the 
littleness  and  abasement,  rather  than  that  any  of 
Truth's  testunonies  should  fall  to  the  ground . 

I  think  I  never  saw  the  necessity  and  value 
of  Friends  in  this  nation  being  a  compact  undi- 
vided body,  more  than  now ;  that  its  conduct 
may  speak,  not  a  confused,  but  intelligible  and 
invitino;  lan^uao-e  to  those  who  are  seekins:  rest 
for  the  sole  of  their  feet. 

1  consider  it  mav  have  been  a  sfreat  favor  to 
oui-  society  to  have  been  disqualified,  as  the 
criminal  law  stands,  from  serving  on  juries ;  as 
v.^ell  as,  I  think  it  is,  from  accepting  places  of 
profit  under  government,  in  the  present  mixed 
state  of  things.  And  I  suppose  we  neither  of 
us  apprehend  that  Friends,  as  a  religious  body, 
are  less  in  danger  from  the  spirit  of  the  world 
and  its  fi'iendship,  than  they  were  a  century  ago. 

1822. — 7  mo.  3.*  Though  much  attended 
with  mental  poverty,  I  seem  not  easy  to  omit 


*  This  letter  was  written  to  some  of  his  friends,  when 
on  a  visit,  by  appointment  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings, 
to  the  Friends  of  Pyrmont  and  Minden. 


EXTRACTS   or  LETTERS. 


saluting  you  with  a  few  lines  expressive  of  en 
deared  affection,  and  of  a  hope,  that  amidst  tlu 
various  ways  in  which  the  cause  of  Truth  may, 
under  the  divine  blessing,  be  acceptably  promo- 
ted, that  in  which  you  are  now  engaged  may  be 
one.  And  under  present  feeling,  I  seem  as  if  I 
might  say,  it  matters  httle  whether  the  flock 
visited  be  smaller  or  greater,  or  w^hether  what 
we  have  to  communicate  be  little  or  much,  if 
the  great  and  gracious  Shepherd  condescend  to 
own  the  engagement  with  the  animating  influ- 
ence of  his  love. 

"  A  little  with  the  blessing  is  a  deal ; 
Witness  the  widow's  oil,  the  widow's  meal." 

I  think  I  can  say  my  heart  dearly  salutes  you, 
and  craves  your  preservation  in  the  meekness, 
innocence,  and  simplicity  of  the  Gospel.  I,  if 
capable  of  seeing  any  thing,  think  there  is  great 
beauty  and  precious  safety,  in  those  who  come 
in  amongst  us,  keeping  enough  to  the  measure 
of  their  own  gift  and  experience ;  endeavoring 
daily,  as  it  may  consist  with  the  divine  will,  to 
know  an  increase  therein,  but  not  out-stepping 
their  guide.  Oh  !  what  sympathy  is  called  for, 
on  behalf  of  sincere  and  tender  minds,  circum- 
stanced as  this  little  flock  is,  in  such  a  country. 
May  your  visit  tend  to  strengthen  in  a  lowly, 
humble,  quiet,  inward  dependence  on  the  in- 


EXTRACtS   OF   LETTEllS.  l^O 

crease  of  the  gift,  individually  receivedj  as  the 
likely  way  for  them  to  be  a  strength  to  one  an- 
other. 

James  Parnel  says  to  Stephen  Crisp,  "Be 
not  hasty  to  know  any  thing  beyond  thy  meas- 
ure and  really  there  does  seem  something 
very  precious  in  this,  provided  the  measure  be 
fully  kept  up  to  ;  and  we  are  preserved  out  of 
all  supineness,  lethargy,  and  inattention.  Do 
remember  as  a  poor  brother,  that  wishes  to 
make  some  humble  advancement  in  solid  expe- 
rience of  that  good,  which  in  a  day  of  trial  will 
be  more  to  us  than  all  the  world.  However  ap- 
pearances may  be  against  it,  I  have  been  in  so 
poor  a  spot  myself,  as  to  seem  almost  unfit  to 
meddle  with  sacred  things,  beyond  my  own 
breast ;  yet  you  see  I  venture — I  hope  I  hum- 
bly venture. 

1822.-— 7  j?io.  3.    What  a  scale  of  usefulness 

do  — — -  and   ^  move  on,  compared  with 

some  of  us :  but  then  I  remember,  that  no  one 
in  sincerity  of  love  and  attachment  to  the  cause, 
shall  even  shut  a  door  in  the  house  for  nought. 
And  there  is  great  sweetness,  I  believe,  often  ex- 
perienced in  the  humbler  and  more  retired  walks 
in  the  Master's  vineyard ;  so  that  all  depends^ 
may  we  not  say,  on  endeavoring  to  be  just  what 
we  should  be,  whether  it  be  foot  or  hand,  or 
only  as  a  finger  on  the  hand.  l 


m 


EXTRACTS   01'  LETTER^. 


1822.— 10  mo.  22.  What  a  beautiful  soci- 
ety, 1  believe  the  Society  of  Friends  would  be, 
if  all  were  diligent  to  improve  the  talents  be- 
stowed upon  them  ;  pressing  daily  towards  the 
mark  of  our  calling  ;  not  resting  contented  in 
any  state,  known  and  felt  to  be  imperfect ;  and 
thereby  encouraging  others  to  be  easy  and  sat- 
isfied in  a  state  of  imperfection.  I  have  of  late 
thought,  that  however  assailed  with  weakness 
and  trial,  it  will  not  do  to  rest  herein ;  but  us- 
ing the  strength  afforded,  be  it  little  or- much, 
wage  war  with  every  thing  which  we  feel  im- 
peding our  journey  to  a  state  of  acceptance, 
wherein  there  is  no  condemnation. 

1822.— 10  mo.  25.  I  know,  dear  friend, 
that  human  nature  is  hable  to  be  much  tossed, 
and  tried,  and  perplexed,  sometimes  with  look- 
ing back,  and  sometimes  with  looking  forward  ; 
but  our  safety,  I  think,  very  much  lies  in  seek- 
ing after  quietness  and  resignation,  faithfully  and 
in  simplicity  endeavoring,  in  our  outward  em- 
ployments, to  discharge  the  duty  of  one  day  at 
a  time,  without  being  over  anxious ;  but  quietly 
trusting  in  the  Lord  for  ability  to  get  through  the 
duty  of  one  day  after  another,  as  they  come  in 
succession;  because  He  knows  exactly  our  sit- 
uation and  circumstances  ;  and  how  availingly 
to  pity  us  and  to  care  for  us  in  all  our  tempta- 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


127 


tions  aiid  besetments,  so  that  there  is  great  ad- 
vantage indeed  in  quietly  looking  to  Him  for 
succor.  Be  sure,  do  not  look  for  or  desire  great 
things,  either  inwardly  or  outwardly  ;  but  desire, 
above  all  things,  to  be  kept  in  humility  and  fear, 
that  so  thy  steppings  may  be  safe  and  sure :  in 
them  is  sweet  preservation.  I  believe  this  is  the 
state  in  which  we  are  at  times  favored  to  see  a 
little  light  upon  our  path ;  and  I  desire  thee  to 
be  thankful  for  every  degree  of  true  light,  be  it 
ever  so  small ;  for  we  have  nothing  truly  good 
at  our  own  command. 

1822. — 12  mo.  14.  It  has  often  occurred  to 
my  mind,  that  events  of  this  interesting  nature 
[the  loss  of  our  near  and  tender  connexions]  fre- 
quently furnish  fresh  occasion,  cahnly  and  deep- 
ly to  ponder  what  are  the  next  steps  for  the 
nearly-connected  survivors  to  take  ;  a  little  light 
upon  the  path  of  the  bereaved,  at  such  seasons, 
is  exceedingly  to  be  prized,  and  if  duly  appre- 
ciated, is,  I  believe  likely,  under  a  sense  of  loss 
and  strippmg,  to  increase  our  dependence  on  the 
guidance,  protection,  and  sustaining  arm  of  hea- 
venly Goodness. 

1822. — 12  mo.  21.  The  removal  of  our  ven- 
erable elder  WiUiam  Tuke,  will,  I  think,  be  felt 
interesting  to  many ;  as  of  a  standard-bearer  in 


12S 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


our  camp.  I  feel  desirous  that  his  decease  may 
have  a  tendency  to  quicken  and  animate  many, 
to  stand  nobly  for  the  cause  he  was  concerned  - 
to  advocate;  not  for  the  eslahlishing  of  their 
own  viewSj  but  the  advancement  of  true  piety, 
holiness,  and  humihtVj  and  thereby  the  glory  of 
our  heavenly  Father.  I.  believe  it  would  be  ac- 
ceptable to  Him,  that  as  one  faithful  soldier  is 
removed;  others  should  the  more  nearly  and  dil- 
igently unite,  that  there  be  no  breach  in  our 
ranks  ;  but  that  we  might,  notwithstanding,  press 
forward  and  advance,  as  a  well-ordered  army, 
under  the  invincible  captain.  It  feels,  as  I  m-ite, 
precious  to  me  to  believe,  that  what  we  some- 
times denominate  "  the  cause"  is  unchangeably 
good,  and  vrorthy  to  be  espoused,  being  the  pro- 
motion of  the  glory  of  God,  in  the  happiness 
and  salvation  of  man.  And  I  am  a  little  cheer- 
ed in  the  hope,  although  many,  and  some  very 
pleasant  persons,  are  too  much  at  ease,  very 
much  short  of  a  state  of  dedication  and  resigna- 
tion, and  of  perfect  obedience,  yet  that  the  call, 
will  continue  so  availingly  to  go  forth,  that  many 
vvill  be  aroused,  and  induced  to  come  forward 
with  increased  zeal  and  fervency  of  spirit,  cloth- 
ed with  humility  as  a  gannent and  that  our  so- 
ciety will  yet  be  beautiful  and  lovely,  an  orna- 
ment and  a  praise.  .  - 


EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS 


129 


182:2. — 12  mo.  29.  3Iay  we  be  preserved  so 
humble,  so  lowly,  so  in  the  spirit  of  gospel  self- 
denial,  as  becomes  the  devoted  followers  of 
Christ ;  and  as  would  enable  beholders  to  dis- 
cover in  us  the  genuine  features  of  ills  flock.  I 
hope  I  hate  formality  for  formality's  sake  :  but 
when  Friends  have  had  the  privilege  of  being 
trained  and  accustomed  to  a  plain,  exemplary 
dress.  I  am  concerned  that  those  I  love  may  use 
great  caution,  ere  they  depart  from  it. 

My  apprehension  is,  that  the  present  time  is 
a  dangerou-s  one  to  Friends.  They  are  courted 
and  siTiiled  upon  by  the  world  ;  and.  ^^-ithout 
very  great  caution,  we  ai'e  hable,  in  our  civil  and 
rehgious  intercourse  with  them,  to  be  drawn 
away  from  that  weightiness  of  spirit,  wherein 
true  religious  advancement.  I  believe,  is  known. 
The  true,  real,  and  genuine  ground,  upon  which 
Friends  have  been  mercifully  brought,  I  believe 
to  be  exceedingly  precious  ;  and  our  safety  and 
usefulness  to  others  much  depend  on  our  keep- 
ing upon  it,  that  we  may  be  strengthened  avail- 
ingly  by  our  example  to  in\ite  others  on  to  it, 
instead  of  quitting  it  to  go  on  to  theirs. 

'  It  becomes  truly  religious  characters  not  to 
run  with  the  changeable  spirit  of  the  times. — 
We  may  maintain  a  care  respecting  this,  and 
yet  have  humble  views  of  ourselves,  not  think- 
ing ourselves  better  than  others,  nor  pAqujn^ 
l2 


130 


EXTRACTS   OF  LETTEKS'. 


ourselves  on  any  peculiarity ;  but  in  watchful- 
ness and  fear,  endeavoring  not  to  quit  our  ranks, 
or  give  occasion  by  our  example  to  any  fcllovN^- 
soldier  to  desert  his. 

1823. — 4  mo.  In  all  the  circumstances  and 
changes  which  we  have  to  experience,  what  a 
favor  it  seems  to  be,  to  be  strengthened  to  stay 
our  minds  upon  the  Lord,  and  to  feel  at  times  a 
sensible,  refreshing  calm,  in  w^hich  we  can  re- 
joice with  thankfulness,  though  with  fear,  know- 
ing how  little  it  is  in  our  power  to  command,  or 
preserve,  or  retain  this  feehng ;  but  yet  it  is 
very  sweet  now"  and  then  to  get  a  Uttle  portion 
of  it.  It  is  something  to  recur  to,  and  is  indeed 
as  a  brook  by  the  way,  enabling  to  hold  up  the 
head  ;  and  thus,  in  low",  succeeding  seasons,  how 
encouraging  it  is  to  remember  that  there  is  this 
precious  state  to  be  at  times  known.  How  does 
it  furnish  occasion  still  to  trust  on,  and  not  cast 
away  our  confidence;  but  to  beheve  that  al- 
though our  lot  may  be  in  poverty  of  spirit,  yet 
that  the  gracious  Shepherd,  whose  goodness  and 
mercy  are  unbounded,  will  never  leave  nor  for- 
sake us,  as  we  endeavor  to  trust  in  Him.  So 
that  however  tossed,  or  however  beset  with  try- 
ing things,  let  us  often,  very  often,  center  down 
in  humble  quietness,  and  calm  dependence  on 
the  Lord ;  and  then,  I  believe,  he  will  sustain 
and  preserve  us. 


SXTRACTS   OF  LETTE7lS 


131 


1823. — 10  mo.  Id.  It  has  been  a  subject  of 
very  considerable  anxiety,  that  we  might  be 
comfortably  supplied  with  a  companion  gifted 
with  the  requisites  to  contribute  to  soothe  and 
solace  our  declining  days,  which  I  consider  of 
very  great  consequence  ;  that  the  mind  may  be 
sw^eetly  at  liberty  to  husband  and  improve  the 
supplies  of  good  mercifully  vouchsafed  day  af- 
ter day,  so  that  there  may  be  a  little  verdure, 
even  in  advanced  age.  In  adverting  to  the 
changes  we  have  experienced  within  the  last 
year  or  two,  how  apt  is  the  mind  to  dwell  on 
the  privations,  when  we  might  more  profitably 
be  clothed  with  gratitude  and  humility,  in  a 
sense  of  the  many  privileges  vouchsafed,  and 
continued,  and  renewed. 

May  Friends  of  every  class  be  encouraged  to 
come  up  to  the  mark  assigned  them,  in  firmness 
and  humility,  two  very  requsite  companions  to 
each  other  in  the  Christian  character ;  I  might 
have  added,  and  wisdom.  I  do  believe  that 
the  want  of  these,  and  of  more  quietness  and  in- 
ward attention,  has  tended  to  lay  waste  the 
minds  of  very  many  in  our  favored  society  ;  in- 
tended in  divine  wisdom  and  mercy,  as  I  some- 
times think,  to  have  been  a  compact,  separated 
body,  endowed  with  very  precious  gifts  and  fa- 
vors.   If  there  is  too  little  of  a  capacity  for  in- 


132  EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 

viting  others,  to  be  seen  in  many  places,  there 
are  many  amongst  us  who  desh^e  the  prosperity 
of  Truth.  And  oh  !  that  none  of  us  may  shrink 
from  baptism :  for  may  this  not  be  called  the 
only  way  for  tii.dy  dignified  and  useful  members 
to  be  produced  in  the  church  ? 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


EXTRACTS  OF  LETTERS  WRlTTExN  IN  THE 
YEARS  1824  AND  1825. 


1824. — 1  mo.  1.  Thy  allusion  to  the  expe- 
rience of  a  winter  season,  might  meet  a  sunilar 
statement  from  us,  and  I  doubt  not.  from  many 
more  ;  and  seeing  this  feeling  and  allotment  are 
in  the  permission  of  a  wisdom  which  cannot  err, 
1  desire  we  may  accept  them  TOh  thankfulness, 
and  be  enabled  wisely  to  improve  from  them, 
quickening  our  dihgence  in  the  great  and  high- 
ly impoiiant  engagem.ent  of  watchfulness,  and 
deep  inward  retirement  of  mind,  before  Him 
who  knows  exactly  all  our  wants,  and  how  and 
when  to  relieve  them  to  our  lasting  advantage. 
Under  a  feeling  of  inward  poverty  and  want,  of 
late  known  and  felt,  I  have  thought  it  exceed- 
ingly desirable  to  labor  after  inward  quiet  and 
attention,  that  the  strength  may  be  rightly  felt 
to  be  renewed,  and  our  religious  experience,  in 
the  goodness  and  mercy  of  Israel's  Shepherd,  to 
he  enlarged.  Hereby  the  gTound-work  of  true 
patience  would  be  laid,  and  the  way  prepared 


134 


EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 


for  that  which  is  so  much  wanted  among  us  ; 
namely,  for  our  becoming  more  a  weighty,  hun:^- 
ble,  watchful,  self-denying  people,  spiritually 
intelhgent,  and  dihgent  in  submitting  to  divine 
requirings,  advancing  from  step  to  step  on  the 
ladder  which  reaches  from  earth  to  heaven. — 
May  greenness  adorn  our  evening,  and  divine 
love  and  mercy  be  our  eternal  crown  of  rejoic- 
ing. 

1824. — 3  mo.  15.  Oh  the  simplicity  that  I 
think  there  is  in  the  Truth  !  Oh  the  simplicity 
of  the  Gospel,  and  of  an  inward,  attentive,  low- 
ly waiting,  for  the  renewed  revelations  of  it ! — 
How  can  this  departure  from  it  [in  America] 
have  been  occasioned  ?  What  a  favor,  if  those 
who  have  been  in  any  degree  jostled  off  the 
foundation,  may  be  in  mercy  brought  back,  and 
have  to  declare  to  others,  that,  in  a  cloudy  tiine, 
they  had  missed  their  way,  but  are  now^,  in  hu- 
mility and  meekness,  brought  back  to  the  quiet 
habitation,  the  place  of  rest  and  safety,  where  I 
believe  the  fihal  fear  thou  m.entionest,  is  happi- 
ly known  and  lived  in.  I  hope  cur  dear  friends 
now  among  them  will  be  graciously  protected  ; 
furnished  with  the  needful  supply  of  wisdom  and 
strength,  and  often  have  to  lie  down  sweetly  be- 
side the  still  waters.  Oh!  what  a  favor  we 
can  conceive  this  to  be,  to  the  poor,  exercised, 


iBXTIlACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


135 


and  oft-tribulated  servants.  Recurnng  again  to 
the  occasions  of  sorrow,  I  seem  to  want  to  add, 
how  strange  it  is  that  any  who  love  the  Truth  in 
sincerity,  should  not  dread  the  baneful  conse- 
quences of  breaking  the  unity — the  unity  of  the 
Spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

If  I  have  any  good  desires,  I  think  one  of 
them  is,,  that  the  ministry  may  be  increasingly 
weighty  among  us.  Our  dear  friends  in  that 
station  are  much  to  be  felt  for,  and  I  wish  that 
we  may  be  favored  with  increased  qualification 
to  contribute  to  their  help  and  comfort.  How 
does  the  desire  arise,  that  there  may  be  quite 
as  much  in  weight  as  measure.  It  is  a  very  in- 
teresting time  we  live  in  ;  and  I  think  vre  are 
a  singularly  appointed  people.  How^  desirable 
is  it,  that  we  may  know  our  place,  and  keep  it — 
a  waiting,  solid,  self-denying  people.  Greatly 
favored  we  have  been  \  and  we  have  reason  to 
believe,  shall  be,  if  we  keep  to  our  principles — 
I  might  say,  to  our  principle,  the  divine  light, 
life,  and  power,  revealed  in  the  soul.  Believ- 
ing in  this  with  steadfastness,  I  believe  we 
should  often  have  to  be  very  poor,  and  sit 
very  low.  But  I  fear  to  say  much  on  this  im- 
portant and  weighty  subject.  Before  I  quite 
quit  it,  perhaps  I  may  as  w^U  say,  that  I  have  (of 
late  particularly)  thought  on  the  benefit  and 


136 


EXTRACTS   OF   LETTERS T 


excellence  of  quietness  and  retlredness  of  mind; 
and  the  want  of  it  in  our  religious  and  favored 
Society,  as  well  as  in  the  world  at  large.  If  it 
were  possible  to  make  Friends  sufficiently  in 
love  with  it,  what  blessed  effects  might  be  hop- 
ed for  from  it. 

1824. — 4  mo.  13.  I  am  a  believer  in  that 
representation  of  George  Dillwyn's,  respect- 
ing important  dehberations  and  discussions  in 
meetings  for  discipline,  somewhat  on  this  wise  • 
that,  when  Friends  are  honestly,  sincerely, 
and  piously,  engaged  in  delivermg  their  res- 
pective views,  with  becoming  condescension 
and  feeling  for  each  other,  and  the  subject  is 
drawing  to  a  point,  there  is  sometimes  known 
a  seal  on  the  top  of  it,  which  bespeaks  the  con- 
clusion to  be  owned.  What  a  favor  and  en- 
couragement is  it,  when  Friends  can  perceive 
this ! 

1824. — 7  mo.  30.  I  notice  thy  informa- 
tion respecting  our  dear  friend's  improvement 
in  her  health.  It  is  indeed  a  favor,  when  hu- 
mility clothes  the  poor  instruments,  as  a  gar- 
ment from  head  to  foot :  indeed,  what  virtue  is 
like  it  for  value  ?  It  becomes  the  man  with  one 
talent,  and  it  is  quite  as  needful  for  him  that 
has  the  two  or  the  five.    What  are  the  most 


ilXTHACTS    OF  LETTERS 


13T 


silted  without  it.  but  poor,  mistaken  cieatureSj 
Ibrgetfiil  that  in  a  moment  all  qualification  for 
profit  or  sernce  may  be  withheld  and  suspend- 
ed, if  not  entirely  -^rithdrawn  : 

18-24. — 11  mo.  1'2.  It  is  not  likely  that  the 
expression  of  my  poverty  should  make  thee  rich. 
I  would  rather  endeavor  to  profit  by  every  dis- 
pensation, that  I  may  be  favored  to  know  my 
attention  quickened,  and  my  feet  more  and 
'  more  established  in  the  faith,  and  hope,  and  pa- 
lienceof  the  Lord's  children. 

I  am  obliged  for  the  various  items  of  inter- 
esting intelligence  contained  in  thy  letter.  May 
we  who  move  in  comparatively  narrow  spheres, 
be  enabled  to  pra}"  for  the  preservation  arid 
protection  of  the  sincere  and  upright-hearted 
under  every  allotment,  and  among  all  the  vi- 
cissitudes permitted  to  occur.  How  do  I  de- 
sii-e  that  the  sincere-heaited  in  America  may  be 
kept  in  the  patient,  steady  pursuit  of  purity  and 
holiness,  and  know  fi-om  season  to  season  the 
discovery  of  the  brook  by  the  way,,  enabhng  to 
hold  up  the  head,  and  to  trust  on. 

What  a  people  should  we  be.  if  we  all  mo^  - 
ed  on.  in  the  condescendingly-appointed  order, 
desiring  to  be  neither  greater  nor  less,  than  di- 
vine wisdom  intendeth  us  to  be.  Then  surely 
would  ])eace  be  our  portion,  and  the  glory  be 


138  EXTRACTS   OF  LETTERS. 


ascribed  to  the  blessed  and  holy  Head  ;  and  we 
be  hving  as  dear  children  of  the  same  heaven- 
ly-minded family,  abounding,  according  to  the 
divine  will,  in  the  fruits  of  the  Sph'it. 

1824.  — 12  mo.  8.  Within  a  very  short  space 
indeed,  I  have  attended  to  the  silent  grave  the 
remains  of  t\Vo  old  acquaintances,  respecting 
whom  it  may  now  be  said,  as  by  and  by  of  us, 
the  place  that  has  known  them,  will  know  them 
no  more.  Not  that  I  think  it  desirable  that  the 
dropping  off  of  those,  with  whom  we  have  been 
used  to  converse,  should  be  allowed  unprofita- 
bly  to  depress,  but  to  quicken  our  attention  to 
the  solemn  subject  of  the  uncertainty  of  time, 
and  of  all  temporal  things :  it  is  indeed  an  aw- 
fully-serious subject ;  and  worthy  of  our  daily 
and  hourly  meditation.  Our  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing is  again  approaching ;  may  it  be  a  time  of 
obtaining  a  little  increase  of  strength,  and  of  en* 
couragement  to  walk  in  the  p^th  of  faith,  and 
humble  confidence  in  the  divine  arm  of  power. 

1825.  — 4  mo.  8.  My  mind,  one  day  this 
week,  was,  I  think  I  may  say,  sweetly  comfort- 
ed in  the  contemplation  of  the  blessedness  of 
that  state,  which  is  preserved  so  low,  so  little, 
and  humble  and  feelingly  dependent,  as  to  be 
thankful  for  even  a  morsel  of  heavenly  bread; 


EXTRACTS    OF  LETTERS. 


139 


and  even  a  small  portion  of  that  living  water 
which  sustains  the  traveler  in  the  path  of  faith  ; 
and  this  was  accompanied  with  gladness,  that, 
f  rom  the  morning  of  our  day  as  a  religious  society, 
it  was  given  forth  as  the  sense  of  Friends,  re- 
specting the  Scriptures,  that  whatsoever  doctrine 
is  contrary  unto  their  testimony,  may  therefore 
justly  be  rejected  as  false  !  It  is  very  pleasant 
to  me,  that  there  is  extant  part  of  a  letter  from 
Wilham  Savery,  of  America,  written  at  the  time 
of  the  trouble  occasioned  by  H.  B.'s  dissent 
from  Friends,  to  a  friend  in  London  ;  a  few  lines 
of  which  I  incline  to  transcribe,  though  I  should 
not  suppose  they  are  new  to  thee  ;  viz.  ^-  The 
longer  I  live,  the  more  unshaken  confidence  I 
think  I  obtain,  that  the  doctrines  laid  down  by 
Robert  Barclay  and  our  first  friends,  founded 
upon  the  New  Testament,  and  still  maintained 
by  the  body  of  Society  at  large,  are  invulnera- 
ble to  the  efforts  of  vain  philosophy,  sophistry, 
and  curious  speculation,  so  long  as  we  retain 
our  behef  in  that  most  excellent  of  all  books  ; 
and  I  am  of  the  mind  that  all  such  as  depart 
from  that  foundation,  will  wither  and  be  con- 
founded." 

1825. — 4  rao.  23.  Since  our  last  friendh^ 
conversation,  I  have  felt  much  interested  in  the 
comfort  of  thy  declining  years.    Thou  hast  of- 


140 


EXTRACTS  or  LETTERS. 


ten  mentioned  to  me  thy  imcomfortable  feel- 
ings and  prospects,  respecting  thyself  and  hu- 
man nature.  I  believej  much  of  them  is  occa- 
sioned by  thy  not  endeavoring  to  lay  hold  of 
the  mercy  of  God,  offered  to  his  creature  man, 
through  the  Spirit  of  Christ  in  the  soul;  be- 
cause I  think,  and  heartily  believe,  that  by  re- 
sorting to  that,  we  are  often  permitted  to  feel 
our  minds,  through  its  blessed  influence,  brought 
into  a  state  of  resignation  to  the  dispensations  of 
Providence,  and  into  a  belief  that  all  He  does, 
however  inscrutable  to  our  limited  and  finite 
comprehension,  is  in  perfect  ^visdom  ;  and  that 
his  power  is  sufficient  to  turn  every  thing  that 
He  suffers  to  befal  us,  to  a  good  account  in  the 
end,  agreeably  to  the  apostle's  testimony,  that 
all  things  work  together  for  good,  to  them  that 
love  and  fear  God." 

As  we  reverently  believe  that  the  Almighty 
is  a  being  of  infinite  and  adorable  perfection  in 
all  his  attributes.  He  stands  in  no  need  of  any 
thing  from  us  ;  but  we  stand  in  need  of  every 
from  Him.  And  we  cannot  rationally  suppose 
any  motive  in  Him  by  the  creation  of  man,  but 
the  communication  of  happiness  to  his  creature. 
And  it  is  good  to  entertain  the  belief,  that  this 
divine  good  will,  and  gracious  design  to  commu- 
nicate happiness,  is  not  of  a  transient  nature, 
but  constant  and  perpetual,  in  Him  in  whom  it 


EXTRACTS    or  LETTERS. 


141 


is  said  ^'  there  is  no  variableness  nor  sliadovv  of 
turning."  And  I  cannot  for  a  moment  enter- 
tain the  idea  that  this  Divine  and  Ahnighty  Be- 
ing, who  created  man  for  happiness  and  immor- 
tality, is  so  little  mindful  of  him,  as,  when  he  is 
come  into  the  world,  to  leave  him  to  shift  for 
himself :  a  creature  who,  He  well  knows,  has 
daily  and  hourly  occasion  for  his  providential 
care  and  fatherly  protection.  Remember  that 
interesting  saying  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  the 
very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  numbered,"  as 
emphatically  descriptive  of  the  tender  notice 
and  regard  of  the  Most  High  towards  his  ration- 
al and  immortal  creatures. 

lam  sincerely  interested  in  thy  comfort: 
and  I  desire  that  the  evening  of  thy  days  may 
be  cheered  by  the  enlivening  persuasion,  that 
thou  canst  not  be  from  under  the  notice  of 
Him,  who  is  an  omnipresent  Spirit,  and  who  is 
not  only  a  God  afar  oft,  but  also  a  God  nigh  at 
hand  ;  about  our  bed,  and  about  our  path,  and 
who  spieth  out  all  our  ways ;  and,  as  David 
beautifully  declares,  whose  tender  mercies 
are  over  all  his  works  ;"  and  that  thus  believ- 
ing, thy  sun  may  go  down  in  brightness,  and 
thy  latter  end  be  crowned  with  peace,  the  bles= 
sed  presage  of  everlasting  happiness. 


2212TC..  338(  2753TC,  1M 

02-17H85 32180    MS  I    04-l4-«5 -1?1RP-  wrr^ 

281BRD  IJ 


04-28-05  32180  NCCi 


J 


1012  01171  7461  _k 


